Broncos Fall Behind Early, Can't Comeback on Senior Day

Broncos Fall Behind Early, Can't Comeback on Senior Day

Check out photos from the senior day ceremony and the game! (Credit Denis Concordel)

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – On senior day, Santa Clara baseball lost to Gonzaga by a final score of 9-3. The Broncos are now 10-35 overall and 0-21 in conference while the Zags are 31-14-1 and 18-6 in WCC action.

The Broncos return to the field on Tues., May 7 vs. Pacific at 6 p.m. for the final home game of the season.

Powell Fansler (0-3, 5.64) started for Santa Clara and got a loss in 6.0 innings. Fansler allowed seven runs, five earned, on seven hits with one walk and no strikeouts. The offense was led by Casey Munoz who was 2-4 with a run scored. Drew Ozanne was 1-3 with a walk and two RBI while Matt Ozanne was 1-4 with a RBI.

Arturo Reyes (6-2, 2.87) started for Gonzaga and got a win in 7.0 innings. Reyes allowed one run on five hits with one walk and seven strikeouts. The offense was led by Cory LeBrun who was 2-3 with a home run, a walk, three runs scored and three RBI. Mitchell Gunsolus was 3-5 with two runs scored while Caleb Wood was 1-3 with a double, a run scored and two RBI.

On the second pitch of the game Gunsolus singled to left field to get the day underway. A one out single to right by LeBrun put runners on the corners for the Zags' leading hitter. Marco Gonzales hit a soft grounder to first but Mac Hess' throw to second hit the runner for an error and run came in while runners remained on the corners with just one out. The second run came in on a ground out by Steven Halcomb.

Taylor Jones reached with one out in the top of the second on a throwing error by Justin Viele. Travis Forbes followed with fly to center that was misjudged and fell in for a hit. M. Ozanne had a chance to throw out the lead runner at second but the throw was in the dirt and Viele couldn't make the pick. Gunsolus loaded the bases with a single up the middle and Wood hit a sac fly to center to push the lead to 3-0. LeBrun blew the game open with a three-run bomb to left.

Taylor Jones led off the fourth with a single to left and moved up 90 feet on a week ground ball down the first base line. Gunsolus went the other way for a single to left to put runners on the corners. The Broncos were able to turn a double play but good base running by Gunsolus allowed the run to score when he got caught in a run down instead of being tagged out right away.

Greg Harisis led off the bottom of the fourth with a bloop single to center. After a strike out, Harisis moved to second on a passed ball and Jose Vizcaino, Jr. was hit by a pitch. M. Ozanne hit a ball to right that was misjudged and fell in for a hit to load the bases. D. Ozanne knocked in the first Santa Clara run on a ground out to the pitcher.

Kenny Treadwell came in to pitch for Santa Clara in the top of the seventh. Wood doubled with one down and LeBrun followed with a walk. Marco Gonzales hit a potential double play grounder but for the second time the throw to second hit the runner and a run came in to score. Halcomb singled to center to bring in another run and after a walk to Clayton Eslick, Treadwell was lifted for Chris Mendoza who got an inning-ending double play.

Zach Looney and Harisis walked to lead off the home half of the eighth against new Gonzaga pitcher Derek Callahan. Munoz singled through the left side to load the bases and Andrew Sopko came in to pitch. After a strikeout, M. Ozanne grounded into a fielder's choice to third to bring in the second Santa Clara run and make the score 9-2. D. Ozanne singled to left to knock in the second run of the inning and get the Broncos a run closer.

Peter Summerville hit a soft single to center with one down in the bottom of the ninth but Sopko was able to close out the game and give Gonzaga the sweep.

Game Notes: First pitch was at 1:10 … Time of game was 2:36 … Attendance was 415 … It was the first career start for Mac Hess … Only a great play by Arturo Reyes coming off the mound and throwing off his back foot kept Justin Viele from getting a hit on a swinging bunt in the bottom of the third … T.J. Braff came in to play first base in the top of the fourth … Justin Gisch came in for senior Stephen Takahashi in the top of the eighth … Max Deering came in to pitch with two outs in the top of the eight, replacing senior Chris Mendoza … Jimmy Sinatro came in to catch in the bottom of the eighth … Kert Woods came in for senior Matt Ozanne in the top of the ninth … Kyle DeMerritt came in for senior Drew Ozanne in the top of the ninth … Senior Justin Viele was taken out in the top of the ninth … Zach Looney moved to third in the top of the ninth … Peter Summerville came in to catch in the top of the ninth … Tommy Nance pitched a perfect top of the ninth with two strikeouts ... C.J. Jacobe pinch hit with one out in the bottom of the ninth ... Kyle Cortopassi pinch hit in the bottom of the ninth.