SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Santa Clara baseball put several runners aboard with two outs Friday night, and could not complete its rallies in a 9-1 loss to San Francisco at Schott Stadium. Trailing 3-1 heading into the last two innings, the Broncos surrendered two runs in the eighth and four runs in the ninth.
The Dons (12-18, 6-4 WCC) opened the scoring in the first inning with consecutive two-out RBI doubles to the right center field gap from Derek Atkinson and Dominic Miroglio. Atkinson swung at the first pitch and hit a pop up into foul territory, which Santa Clara catcher Stevie Berman dropped, resulting in an error after the double.
Santa Clara starting pitcher Steven Wilson allowed three runs (one earned) on five hits with a walk and five strikeouts in 6.0 innings for the Broncos (14-14, 4-6 WCC). He retired seven straight batters from the end of the first through the end of the third, and faced only two batters above the minimum — with three 1-2-3 innings — in his last five frames. Wilson (L, 3-3) recorded his sixth quality start in eight outings this season on Friday night.
The Broncos strung together three two-out singles in the second inning, including an RBI effort to left field from Austin Fisher to drive in TC Florentine. Santa Clara's first seven baserunners all reached with two outs, a streak which Tyler Meditz broke with an infield single to lead off the seventh. Meditz led the Broncos at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a double and a run scored, while Jose Vizcaino, Jr. and Florentine each recorded a hit and a walk.
San Francisco starting pitcher Anthony Shew allowed an earned run on six hits with three walks and three strikeouts in 8.0 innings. Shew (W, 4-3) pitched at least 8.0 innings for the sixth time in his last seven starts.
The Dons added their third run of the game on a Miroglio home run to left center in the fourth. The USF catcher singled to drive in his third run of the game in the eighth, which tied for a game-high with Blake Valley, who recorded all three of his RBIs in the last two innings. Miroglio and Derek Atkinson led the Dons with three hits apiece as the visitors plated six runs in the final two innings.
The Broncos and Dons return to Schott Stadium for Game 2 of the three-game series Friday at 6 p.m. Santa Clara LHP Kevin George (2-2, 3.82 ERA) will take the mound against San Francisco LHP Christian Cecilio (2-1, 1.83).
