STOCKTON, Calif. — Santa Clara baseball brought an 11-run deficit down to four with a late rally, but fell to the Pacific Tigers 12-8 in a Friday night West Coast Conference series opener at Klein Family Field. The Broncos scored six runs in the last two innings and came within one batter of bringing the tying run to the plate in the ninth.
Trailing 12-1 in the sixth, the Broncos (19-24, 6-13 WCC) scored the first of seven unanswered runs on TC Florentine's RBI fielder's choice. Florentine added two runs on a double in the eighth in between RBI singles from Jake Brodt and Ryan Budnick, then drove in his fourth run of the game on an RBI single in a two-run ninth.
Stockton native Kyle Cortopassi drove the third pitch of the game over the left field wall for his first home run of the season and the second long ball of his career. Pacific starter Will Lydon (W, 3-8) retired 16 of the first 18 batters he faced on the night. He allowed six runs (five earned) on 10 hits with no walks and three strikeouts in 7.2 innings.
The Tigers (18-25, 9-10 WCC) took their first lead in the second inning on an RBI fielder's choice off the bat McKay Koissian. They scored multiple runs in four straight innings, including a five-run fourth, to build the lead.
Danny Mayer and Gio Brusa combined for five of Pacific's nine RBIs. Brusa hit a two-run homer in the third and Mayer added a two-run double in the fourth. Santa Clara's Steven Wilson (L, 4-4) allowed 12 runs (eight earned) on 13 hits with three walks and two strikeouts in 4.2 innings. Peter Hendron dealt 3.1 shutout frames out of the Bronco bullpen.
Cortopassi has matched the team's best on-base streak this season by reaching in 15 straight games. He went 3-for-4 and scored four runs on the night. Budnick went 3-for-4 and John Cresto went 2-for-5 — both batters drove in a run.
The Broncos and Tigers return to action Saturday night for a 6 p.m. first pitch. Mitchell White (2-6, 3.73 ERA) makes the start for Santa Clara against Pacific's Ricky Reynoso (2-4, 4.95).
GAME NOTES: Time of the game was 2:43 … attendance was 509.
Connect with the Broncos on Social Media
Athletics: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
Baseball: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Go Broncos!
