Despite Matt Ozanne's three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh, Santa Clara fell short to visiting San Diego State, losing 7-4, and splitting the two-game mid-week set. Santa Clara is now 4-5 and the Broncos host Northern Colorado in a three-game series starting Fri., March 1 at 6 pm. San Diego State returns home with a 4-5 record.
Travis Pitcher threw 1.2 innings with one run earned on two hits and two walks. He was awarded the win for the Aztecs and is now 1-0 this year. The Aztecs used four pitchers in the game.
Offensively for the Broncos Matt Ozanne led the way with a three-run homer in the seventh. Greg Harisis was 2-2. Casey Munoz was 2-3 with an RBI and a walk.
Offensively the Aztecs were led by Greg Allen who went 4-6 with four RBIs. Jake Romanski was 3-5 and Brad Haynal was 2-5 with two RBIs.
To lead off the top of the first, Greg Allen reached base on a bunt single. Tim Zier's sacrifice bunt pushed Allen to second. Jonathan Spirk hit the ball through the shortstop and third baseman to put runner's on first and third. Brad Haynal's double scored both runs. Tyler France was hit on the foot with a 0-1 count. Bronco head coach Dan O'Brien came out of the dugout for a quick conference with Deering. Deering's balk advanced the runner's to second and third. Steven Pallares struck out looking for the second out. Jake Romanski ended the Aztecs third by grounding out, stranding two.
With one out in the bottom of the first, Justin Viele drew a walk for the Broncos. However, he was caught stealing for the second out of the frame. Harisis slapped a two-out double to left field. San Diego State starter forced Quinton Perry to foul out to end the inning.
Deering settled in in the second, punching out Gheorghe to begin the frame followed by a quick fly ball to center. Greg Allen extended the inning on a Bronco error. Deering recovered by striking out Tim Zier to end the inning.
In the bottom of the second, the Broncos cut the Aztecs' lead in half. After Matt Ozanne was plunked to begin the inning, Casey Munoz doubled to left to knock in M. Ozanne.
The top of the third the Aztecs collected two hits as Deering escaped without allowing any runs. The Broncos didn't score in the bottom of the third.
In the top of the fourth the Aztecs struck for two with no outs. Reece Karalus relieved Deering with runners on second and third and no outs. Tim Zier struck out swinging. Spirk grounded out and Haynal flew out deep to left. Two runners were stranded.
Romanski picked up a single in the top of the fifth and stole second. Justin Gheorghe struck out swinging as the Aztecs stranded a lone runner, striking out each batter he faced with Romanski's single as the exception.
The Broncos brought in Nick Medeiros at the top of the sixth to face the Aztecs. He walked Evan Potter. Greg Allen's bunt single advanced Potter to second. After an out, Medeiros struck Spirk to load the bases but France popped out to Justin Viele. So the Aztecs left three on base with 10 runners stranded the first six innings.
Casey Munoz singled to start off the bottom of the sixth for the Broncos but was stranded when the Broncos finished off the inning with three straight outs.
The Broncos brought in Chris Mendosa to start the seventh inning. Steven Pollares walked and advanced to second on the pop out. Mendoza hit Avondare Bollar to take first. D.J. Zapata replaced Mendosa. Allen's single drove in two runs to put the Aztecs up 6-1. DeMeMerritt's heads up play at third resulted in a double play when he caught the pop up and slung it to Cortopassi to catch the SDSU runner too far off second for the next out. Spirk grounded out and the Aztecs stranded two with three scored.
The Broncos went down in order in the bottom of the seventh.
Evan Brisentine came in as the Broncos reliever in the top of the eighth. Sprinkling a couple of hits, the Aztecs stranded two more runners, with 14 all told in the game.
Cortopassi and T.J. Braff both singled with one out. M. Ozanne hit a huge three run homer to left to make it 7-4 San Diego State. The Broncos left one on base.
Kenny Treadwell came on in relief in the top of the ninth. He struck out the first batter and put the Aztecs away in order.
The Broncos went down in order in the bottom of the ninth.
Game Notes
First pitch was at 3:02 … Attendance was 154 … In the top of the fourth, Kert Woods left the game and Stephen Takahashi checked in at left. DeMerritt moved from second to third as Harisis left and Kyle Coropassi took over at first. Perry also left the game at first and T.J. Braff tookover. Finally, Peter Summerville left the place and Zach Looney took over … In the bottom of the seventh, Pallares moved from right to left and Bollar, who pinch hit, moved to right … C.J. Jacobe pinch hit in the seventh for the Broncos.