SAN DIEGO, Calif. — Santa Clara baseball held leads in the first and sixth innings Friday night against San Diego, and the Toreros rallied to win the West Coast Conference series opener 9-4 at Fowler Park. Santa Clara committed four late errors that led directly to four San Diego runs.
Trailing 2-1 in the sixth, the Broncos (15-17, 3-7 WCC) took their second lead of the game on Ryan Budnick's two run double down the left field line. Santa Clara left the based loaded with a 3-2 lead that inning and stranded seven runners in the fifth through eighth innings.
The Toreros (19-18, 6-7) knotted the game at three on Roman Garcia's RBI single in the bottom half of the sixth. With two outs and runners on second and third, Jay Schuyler hit a ground ball that nicked off the glove of Santa Clara's third baseman Budnick for a two-run error.
In the seventh, Bronco catcher Braden Frankfort committed two errors on high throws to third base, allowing San Diego to score two more runs. Hunter Mercado-Hood extended the lead to 8-3 on an RBI double immediately after the second error of the inning.
Mitchell White (L, 2-5) struck out 10 batters in 6.2 innings and allowed eight runs (six earned) on seven hits with three walks. He struck out the side in the first and fifth innings. White has struck out double-digit batters in four of his nine weekend starts this year.
San Diego starter Troy Conyers allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits with two walks and six strikeouts in 5.1 innings. Sean Barry (W, 1-0) walked Kyle Cortopassi and hit Frankfort with a pitch to load the bases, but did not surrender any runs after taking over for Conyers in the sixth to earn the victory. Nathan Kuchta (SV, 5) struck out four in 3.0 innings to pick up the save.
Cortopassi went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored to lead the Broncos while Woods went 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Jeff Houghtby tallied two doubles, an RBI and a run scored to top the Toreros.
Santa Clara and San Diego return to the diamond at 6 p.m. on Saturday night. Steven Wilson (3-1, 3.76 ERA) will take the hill for the Broncos against Gary Cornish (4-2, 4.44) in a battle of righthanders.
GAME NOTES: First pitch was at 6:05 p.m. … time of the game was 3:09 … attendance was 456.
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