SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Wrapping-up a three-game set with a Bay Area rival, Santa Clara baseball lost to San Francisco by a final score of 7-5 in 10 innings. It was the third consecutive extra-inning game between the two teams. The Broncos are now 9-24 overall and 0-12 in conference while the Dons are 20-15 and 8-4 in WCC action.
The Broncos return to the field on Tues., April 16 at 6 p.m. at Cal Poly.
Mike Couch (3-5, 3.65) started for Santa Clara and picked up a no-decision in 7.0 innings. Couch allowed five runs, four earned, on five hits with three walks and one strikeout. Peter Hendron (0-1, 6.43) picked up the loss with 2.0-plus innings out of the bullpen. The offense was led by Kyle DeMerritt who was 3-4 with two RBI and a home run. Zach Looney was 2-4 while Justin Viele was 1-3 with a double, two walks and two runs scored.
Christian Cecilio (3-0, 3.64) started for San Francisco and got a no-decision in 7.0 innings. Cecilio allowed three runs on six hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Bobb Mott (2-1, 1.42) got the win with 2.0 innings in relief. The offense was led by Bradley Zimmer who was 3-4 with a home run, a double, three runs scored and two RBI. Josh Miller was 3-4 with two doubles and three RBI while Zachary Turner was 2-4 with two doubles, two runs scored, a walk and a RBI.
After two quick outs in the top of the first, Bradley Zimmer doubled to left center and moved up on a wild pitch. After falling behind 0-2, Zachary Turner worked the count full and doubled off the base of the wall in center to put USF up early. Mitchell Rowan followed with a single to center to make it 2-0 Dons. Bob Cruikshank was hit by a pitch and Brendan Hendriks walked to load the bases. Josh Miller singled to left to bring in the third run of the inning but Cruikshank was gunned down at home by Stephen Takahashi for the third out.
Hendriks drew a lead off walk in the top of the fourth and went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Miller. Couch was able to record the next two outs to keep the deficit at three.
Greg Harisis drew a one out walk in the bottom of the fourth and stole second to put himself in scoring position. T.J. Braff was robbed of a RBI double down the right field line on a great diving catch by Hendriks at first. Harisis stole third on the first pitch to Matt Ozanne but the inning ended on a weak grounder to third.
Peter Summerville drew a walk with one down in the home half of the fifth but Hendriks made a nice grab on a soft liner by Takahashi and was able to double up Summerville to end the inning.
Viele got the bottom of the sixth started with a double to left center. Zach Looney grounded out to the shortstop to move Viele to third and Munoz got the Broncos on the board with a RBI single up the middle.
Munoz dropped a soft liner to in right to let Jason Mahood reach and Zimmer made the Broncos pay with a two run bomb to left center that made the score 5-1.
M. Ozanne flared a single to right field and DeMerritt followed with his first career home run to get the Broncos within two.
Viele led off the bottom of the eighth with a walk and Looney followed with a singled through the left side. Munoz grounded into a fielder's choice to put runners on the corners with one out. Kert Woods pinch ran for Munoz ad went to third on a RBI single by Harisis. Braff legged out the back end of a fielder's choice to tie the game at 6-6.
Zimmer hit a seeing-eye single to right to lead off the 10th and Peter Hendron was lifted for Max Deering. Turner doubled off the left field wall to put runners on second and third with no outs. Deering caught Mitchell Rowan looking for the first out and intentionally walked Bob Cruikshank to load the bases. Deering to another strikeout but Miller doubled in two more runs.
Game Notes: First pitch was at 1:01 … Time of game was 2:59 … Attendance was 424 … Peter Summerville gunned down Zachary Turner attempting to steal second to end the top of the third … Case Munoz was caught stealing to end the sixth … Peter Hendron made his first appearance since Feb. 17 and had a 1-2-3 eighth … Harrison Bruce pinch hit in the top of the ninth … For the third consecutive day the game went into extra innings … Max Deering appeared in all three games of the series … Kenny Treadwell came in with two outs in the top of the 10th.