Bronco Baseball Takes Down Fresno State 9-5

Bronco Baseball Takes Down Fresno State 9-5

Post game interview with James Smith

Check out photos from the game! (Credit Denis Concordel)

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - In a rare midweek 1 p.m. game, Santa Clara baseball beat Fresno State by a final of 9-5. The win moves Santa Clara to 17-9 while Fresno State is now 14-14.

Making his first start for the Broncos, RHP James Smith (1-0; 2.13) picked up his first career win in 8.0 innings pitched. He allowed two runs on six hits with two walks and one strikeout. 1B Andrew Biancardi had a big day at the plate, going 2-4 with a three-run home run to put Santa Clara ahead in the fifth inning. He scored two runs and also stole a base.

Santa Clara will continue its non-conference week with a three-game series at Cal State Bakersfield April 6-8.

"My curveball was definitely working for me," said Smith. "I threw it a lot for strikes and just in general. I got a lot of guys to pop up which was good. After they got ahead early I just wanted to keep pounding the zone and throw my off speed pitches for strikes. It was a dream come true to start in a Division I baseball game."

2B Patrick Hutcheson led off the game with a single through the left side. 1B Jordan Brink hit into a fielder's choice and LF Aaron Judge singled to left to put two on. Smith balked the runners to second and third before CF Matt Ozanne misread a fly ball that led to a two RBI double. A groundout to second and a fly out to left field ended the inning with the score 2-0 Fresno State.

C Quinton Perry reached on an error by the shortstop to lead off the bottom of the second and 2B Drew Ozanne singled through the right side on a hit and run to put runners on the corners with no outs. 3B Matt Glomb came up with a single through the left side to knock in the first Bronco run. DH Casey Husband grounded into a 4-6-3 double play even though both runners were running on the pitch. With two outs and a runner now on third RF Greg Harisis singled up the middle to tie the game at 2-2. With SS Justin Viele at the plate Harisis was thrown out attempting to steal to end the inning.

RF Jordan Luplow was hit by a pitch with one out in the fourth and SS Chris Mariscal singled up the middle on a hit and run to put runners on the corners with one out. Glomb snared a liner to third for the second out of the inning and nearly doubled the runner off third. After Mariscal stole second, CF Taylor Tempel attempted to bunt his way on but was thrown out by Smith to end the inning.

Husband walked on four pitches to start the bottom of the fifth and Harisis followed with a single to center. Viele tried to lay down a sacrifice bunt but the Fresno State pitcher hopped off the mound and threw out the lead runner at third. After a pitching change RF C.J. Jacobe came up for the first time after coming in as a defensive replacement for M. Ozanne in the top of the fourth and singled through the right side with the runners on the move to give the Broncos a 3-2 lead. Biancardi launched a three-run home run to left field to open up the score at 6-2. Stover was plunked on the next pitch and advanced to second on a wild pitch. With a 1-0 count Fresno State went back to the bullpen and RHP Christian Belleque got Perry to pop out to the catcher for the second out of the inning. D. Ozanne flew out to finally end the inning.

Biancardi blooped a single to right field and stole second in the bottom of the seventh. Perry was intentionally walked and pinch hitter Kyle DeMerritt walked to load the bases with two down. Glomb smoked the first pitch he saw into the left field gap for a three-RBI double and he went to third on an error by the center fielder. DH Stephen Meade struck out swinging to end the inning.

RHP Kenny Treadwell made his first appearance of the season to start the ninth. He allowed a lead off double to Luplow and was lifted for RHP Drake Swezey. Swezey got a ground out to first that advanced the runner to third with one out. Viele fumbled a grounder to short for an error that allowed the run to score. A pop out for the second out brought up Hutcheson who singled to right. Brink doubled down the right field line to bring in two more runs and make the score 9-5. LHP Max Deering came in to pitch and gave up an infield single to put runners on the corners. Pinch hitter Daniel Moultrie grounded into a fielder's choice to end the game and give Santa Clara the victory.

Game Notes: First pitch was 1:02 ... Matt Ozanne was replaced by C.J. Jacobe in the top of the fourth. ... Casey Husband made his first career start ... By hitting his fourth home run on the year, Andrew Biancardi surpassed the Santa Clara leader in home runs from 2011 (Matt Ozanne and Pat Terry with three each) ... Stephen Meade pinch ran for Casey Husband in the bottom of the sixth ... T.J. Braff pinch hit for Andrew Biancardi in the eighth ... Fresno State used six pitchers ... With its 17th win of the season, Santa Clara matches its win total from 2011.