SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Playing its local rival, Santa Clara baseball fell to San Jose State by a final of 10-7. The Broncos are now 14-22 on the season while the Spartans are now 12-25.
Santa Clara returns to the field on Thurs., April 17 at 6 p.m. in the first of a three-game set at San Diego.
Kevin George (1-3, 5.87) started for Santa Clara and picked up a loss in 1.0+ innings. George allowed four runs on two hits and two walks. Jose Vizcaino, Jr. was 2-5 with a double, three RBIs and a run scored to lead the offense. Stevie Berman was 3-4 with a double and two RBIs while Greg Harisis was 3-4 with a double and two runs scored.
Johnny Melero (2-4, 5.10) started for San Jose State and picked up a win in 2.0 innings. Melero allowed two hits with one strikeout. Kyle Gallegos went 2-5 with two doubles and three RBIs to lead the offense. Matt Carroll was 2-5 with two doubles, two runs scored, and an RBI while Sheldon Daquioag was 2-5 with two doubles and an RBI.
Andre Murcurio led off the game with a walk and moved up to second on a wild pitch. An error put runners on the corners and San Jose State took a 1-0 lead on a sacrifice bunt by Jacob Valdez. A great play by Luke Huerta at third saved another run from scoring and the inning ended with just one run coming across.
Carroll started the top of the second with a double over the head of center fielder Harisis. Brett Bautista followed with a double down the right field line to knock in the second Spartan run of the night. After a four-pitch walk to Alec de Watteville, Kevin George was lifted for Nick Medeiros. A fielder's choice with one down loaded the bases for San Jose State and Gallegos cleared the bases with a double into the left field corner. Kert Woods made a nice catch in right field to end the inning with San Jose State on top 5-0.
On the first pitch of the third inning, Matt Lopez singled through the right side and stole second on the next pitch. After two outs were recorded, de Watteville hit a booming triple to right center to knock in a run. Mike Simonini singled down the left field line to make it a 7-0 game but was gunned down trying to make it to second.
With two outs in the bottom of the third Harisis hit a sharp single up the middle and Woods worked a walk. Vizcaino, Jr. worked a full count after fouling off some tough pitches and doubled down the left field line for the first two Bronco runs of the night. James Glawe came in to pitch and hit Berman on the elbow to put runners on first and second but a strikeout ended the inning.
Casey Munoz blasted a home run to left on the first pitch of the bottom of the fourth inning to get the Broncos a run closer at 7-3.
Lopez walked on four pitches to start the top of the fifth and Carroll doubled him home. Bautista hit an infield single on a bad hop to the first baseman to put runners on the corners and de Wattevill brought in a run with a fielder's choice.
Harisis doubled to right center with one out in the bottom of the seventh and moved up to third on a ground out. Vizcaino singled back through the middle for an RBI on the first pitch he saw to make the score 9-4. Vizcaino moved to second on a wild pitch and Berman brought him home with a chopper up the middle for a single. Quinton Perry followed with a sharp single to left but the inning ended on a fly ball to right with the score 9-5 Spartans.
A double down the left field line by Gallegos started the ninth inning. After an out, Gallegos stole third and scored on a double by Daquiog to make the score 10-5.
Harisis smoked the first pitch of the bottom of the ninth up the middle for a single and Woods followed with a walk. Vizcaino struck out but both runners moved up on a wild pitch. Berman knocked in a run with a double to right field to get the Bronco deficit to four. Perry went down swinging for the second out but Munoz brought in a run with an infield single to short. C.J. Jacobe came in to pinch-hit representing the tying run but went down looking to end the game.
Game Notes: Attendance was 297 … First pitch was at 6:05 … Time of game was 2:52 … It was the first collegiate start for Luke Huerta. … San Jose State got its lead off hitter on base in every inning except the sixth. … Max Deering had a 1-2-3 top of the fourth on nine pitches, all strikes. … Quinton Perry came in to play first base in the top of the sixth. … Kyle Czaplak came in to play third in the top of the eighth. … Rory Graf-Brennen pinch-hit for Zach Looney in the bottom of the eighth.