Bronco Baseball Tops LMU on Final Day of Season

Bronco Baseball Tops LMU on Final Day of Season

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – In the final game of the season, Santa Clara baseball beat LMU by a final score of 5-4. The Broncos end their season 14-39 overall and 1-23 in conference while the Lions are 24-28 and 12-12 in WCC action.

Powell Fansler (1-3, 4.66) started for Santa Clara and got a no-decision in 1.0 inning. Fansler allowed one run on one hit with two walks and one strikeout. Senior Chris Mendoza (3-2, 3.86) got the win in his final collegiate appearance with 5.0 innings out of the bullpen.  Tommy Nance (3-4, 3.60) picked up his second save in his final appearance by throwing 1.2 shutout innings to close out the game. The offense was led by Zach Looney who was 2-4 with a walk, two stolen bases and three runs scored and Drew Ozanne who had a double and three RBI.

Brandon Horth (1-0, 3.05) started for LMU and got a no-decision in 4.0 innings. Horth allowed one run on one hit with one walk and four strikeouts. Matt Florer (2-5, 4.13) got the loss in 1.1 innings out of the bullpen. The offense was led by Kevin Garcia who was 2-2 with a walk and two RBI and David Edwards who was 2-4 with a walk and a run scored.

LMU struck first in the bottom of the first after two were out. Edwards singled to third and Colton Plaia drew a walk. Both runners moved up on a double steal and a run came in when Fansler uncorked a wild pitch.

Looney led off the top of the fourth with a single to center and was moved to second on a sac bunt by Casey Munoz. Looney moved to third on a wild pitch and Matt Ozanne walked to put runners on the corners. T.J. Braff struck out but a double steal tied the game at 1-1.

Zac Fujimoto doubled to left center to lead off the home half of the fourth and was advanced to third on a sac bunt. Garcia followed with a squeeze to give LMU the lead once again.

The Broncos jumped out to the lead with a three-run sixth inning. Looney singled through the left side to lead off the inning and stole second with one down. M. Ozanne walked and Braff was hit by a pitch to load the bases for D. Ozanne who doubled down the left field line to clear the bases and give Santa Clara the 4-2 lead.

Looney got things going in the top of the seventh with a walk and Munoz reached on an error that put runners on second and third with no outs. M. Ozanne singled to left to bring in a run. A failed double steal moved M. Ozanne to second while Munoz was cut down at home and LMU got out of the inning.

The Lions loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the eighth and Nance entered the game. Chris Barnett reached on a fielder's choice to bring in a run. Garcia followed with a single to center to make the score 5-4 but Nance got out of the inning with the lead still in tact.

After two quick outs in the bottom of the ninth, Nance walked back-to-back hitters to put the tying run in scoring position but was able to get a ground out to second to close out the win.