LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Santa Clara baseball led after one inning but ultimately fell 6-3 to Loyola Marymount in game two of the series. The Broncos led 1-0 after the first inning but surrendered six runs between the second and fifth innings. Senior left fielder Tyler Meditz scored two runs for SCU and stole a base on the night.
Santa Clara (7-23, 3-5 WCC) scored in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead over Loyola Marymount (20-11, 8-3 WCC) on an RBI single by junior first baseman Jake Brodt. Sophomore third baseman John Cresto led the game off with a double and came around to score after a sac bunt and Brodt's single.
The Lions scored six runs in the next four innings to take a 6-1 lead. Freshman right-handed pitcher Grant Nechak started the game and allowed one earned run in 1.2 innings. Senior right-handed pitcher Jacob Steffens (2-4) replaced him and surrendered five earned runs in 6.1 innings. He struck out six batters in the losing effort.
LMU scored in the second inning after a single and an RBI double to tie the game at one. In the third inning the Lions struck for three runs, recording a single, RBI double and two more RBI singles to take a 4-1 lead. The Lions added two more runs in the fifth inning, recording a double, a single and then an RBI double. Steffens then intentionally walked a batter to load the bases with one out. He forced a groundout but a run scored to make it 6-1.
Six runs by the LMU offense would be enough as Brenton Arriaga (4-0) threw 7.0 innings and allowed two runs (one earned run) and four hits while striking out six batters and walking zero. Harrison Simon threw two innings in relief and allowed one earned run. The Bronco offense went just 3-of-16 at the plate with runners on base.
Santa Clara pulled one unearned run back in the top of the sixth to cut the lead to 6-2. Meditz led the inning off by reaching on an error. After a fielder's choice and a groundout, Meditz wound up on third base. Junior second baseman Evan Haberle recorded an RBI on a fielder's choice play to score the run.
SCU added another run in the eighth inning, cutting the LMU lead to three. Meditz walked to begin the inning and then stole second base. Junior right fielder Niko Holm singled to advance Meditz to third base. Once again, he came around to score on a fielder's choice RBI this time by freshman center fielder Andre Nnebe.
Up Next: Santa Clara will play the series finale on Sunday at 1 p.m. PT.
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