SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Santa Clara and San José State played four and a half scoreless innings Wednesday night at Schott Stadium, and combined to score 13 runs over the last four frames in an 8-5 Bronco win. The Broncos picked up four RBIs in two at-bats during the seventh to retake the lead on their way to victory.
Santa Clara has swept the two-game series against San José State in each of the last two seasons and won five straight games in the series.
Grant Meylan and TC Florentine each had RBI singles for the Broncos (11-12) in a two-run fifth. The Spartans answered with RBIs from three straight batters — including a two-run homer to left field by Ozzy Braff — to take a 4-2 lead in the sixth. After the seventh inning stretch, Jake Brodt put the Broncos back in the lead with a two-run single and Kert Woods followed with a two-run double to give Santa Clara a 7-4 edge.
Each team used seven pitchers in the contest, and Freddie Erlandson (W, 1-0) earned his first collegiate win by tossing a scoreless seventh. Jake Swiech (L, 0-2) surrendered three runs in 0.2 innings to take the loss.
Travis Howard issued 4.0 scoreless innings as the Bronco starter, allowed just one hit and faced the minimum with the help of a second-inning double play. Through two career starts, the freshman has a 0.84 ERA in 10.2 innings. Spartan starter Logan Handzlik struck out three and gave up four hits in 3.0 shutout frames.
Max Kuhns (SV, 8) pitched through a leadoff single in the ninth and struck out two batters en route to his eighth save of the year. Santa Clara's Jake Steffens made his first appearance since March 6, 2015 after undergoing Tommy John surgery last season; he allowed a run in the eighth and struck out one batter.
Santa Clara drove in all eight of its runs with two outs. Meylan notched a game-high three hits and was one of four Broncos to post two RBIs on the day alongside Florentine, Brodt and Woods.
With one out in the sixth, Woods threw out Aaron Pleschner at home after the Spartan designated hitter attempted to score from second on a single by Joe Stefanki. Woods' outfield assist help the Broncos slow the Spartan offense in their first scoring inning.
Santa Clara resumes West Coast Conference play Friday night when it hosts Saint Mary's at 6 p.m.
GAME NOTES: First pitch was at 6:01 p.m. … time of the game was 2:46 … attendance was 379 … new Santa Clara men's basketball head coach Herb Sendek threw out the first pitch after a press conference and introduction to campus on Wednesday.
