Written by John Nash '13
The Santa Clara baseball team finished out their regular season slate Sunday by dropping a 6-5 game to the Portland Pilots. The Broncos had no troubles at the plate, amassing 13 hits over nine innings. Chris Mendoza (3-6) got the start for Santa Clara and was charged with the loss. The Broncos end the season at 17-34 overall, 4-17 in WCC play
Seniors Curtis Wagner, Patrick Terry, and Brian Roby each recorded a base hit in their final game as a Bronco.
Matt Ozanne, Lucas Herbst, and Drew Ozanne led the way for the Broncos at the plate, each recording three hits. M. Ozzane record two doubles, while Herbst tallied two RBI's on the day and D. Ozanne one. Justin Viele also added a hit for the Broncos.
The Santa Clara bullpen pitched well, as Brock Simon went four innings while only allowing five hits and one run. Max Deering pitched a perfect 1.1 innings in relief of Simon.
The Broncos got on the board first as M. Ozanne doubled down the left field line to start off the game. Herbst singled to left center to score Ozanne.
The Pilots responded in the bottom half as Kramer Scott got things started with a single to right field. Kevin Armijo reached on an error, and Matt Mardesich recorded an infield single. With the bases loaded, Riley Hendricks knocked in two RBI's with a single through the left side.
Portland was back at it in the second as Ben Grubb doubled with one out. Scott reached on a bunt single, and Armijo knocked in Grubb with sacrifice bunt. Turner Gill knocked in Scott one hitter later with an RBI single to put the Pilots up 4-1.
Santa Clara answered immedietly putting two runs up in the top half of the third. M. Ozanne reached on an infield single, and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Herbst singled to left, moving Ozanne to third. Matt Ozanne scored on a wild pitch as Herbst moved two second. After DeMerrit fouled out, Terry reached on an error. D. Ozanne hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Herbst.
Portland tacked on another run in the bottom of the third with Scott's two out single into center field. The Pilots would add their sixth and final run of the game in the bottom of the fifth as Brian Frattali scored on Simon's wild pitch.
Santa Clara tallied two in the top half of the sixth as Roby reached base on a strike three wild pitch to start the inning. Viele singled to right as Roby advanced to third, and Takahashi's sacrifice fly scored Roby. After M. Ozanne grounded out, Herbst knocked in Viele with a single to left center.
The Broncos would be held scoreless the rest of the way as Portland brought in all-american closer Chris Dennis. The Broncos loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth, but Dennis got Roby swinging to end the game.