SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Santa Clara fell 12-7 to San Francisco in the series finale on Sunday. SCU scored seven runs in the first four innings and held a two-run lead but gave up seven runs in the sixth and seventh frames. Dominic Miroglio went 5-for-5 at the plate for USF with a double, two runs driven in and a run scored. Sophomore third baseman John Cresto was 4-for-5 at the plate for SCU with a home run and a double.
Santa Clara (8-30, 4-11 WCC) led 3-0 after one inning on San Francisco (21-20, 7-11 WCC) and scored in three of the first four innings. However, the Broncos let the Dons also score in three of the first four innings. USF then shut down the Bronco offense after the fourth inning and rallied to get seven more runs. Scott Parker (4-1) earned the win, throwing 2.1 scoreless innings in relief. Senior right-handed pitcher Jacob Steffens fell to 2-5 on the year as he threw 5.1 innings and allowed eight runs (seven earned).
Cresto hit a leadoff home run to start the game for SCU. His eighth home run of the season put the Broncos up 1-0 and the team went on to add two more runs as junior first baseman Jake Brodt hit an RBI single to score freshman center fielder Andre Nnebe. Brodt also came around to score on an RBI single by sophomore right fielder Matt Smithwick to put SCU up 3-0.
The Dons hit three straight singles in the top of the second inning and were able to bring two runs in out of it. The first run scored on a wild pitch and the second came on a sacrifice fly.
USF tied the game at three with a solo home run by Allen Smoot to leadoff the third inning.
Santa Clara regained the lead in the bottom half of the inning as Brodt doubled to lead things off, advanced to second on single by senior left fielder Tyler Meditz and scored on a wild pitch. Junior second baseman Evan Haberle then tripled down the right field line to score Meditz and put SCU up 5-3.
Once again the Dons would tie the score in the top of the fourth inning thanks to a two-out rally. Nico Giarratano doubled to drive in a run and then Smoot singled to bring Giarratano home and tie the game at five.
Haberle hit a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the fourth inning to put the Broncos back in the lead by a score of 7-5. SCU loaded the bases on a Cresto double, a single by junior designated hitter Niko Holm and a walk from Meditz. Haberle's single up the middle drove in Cresto and Holm.
The Dons took the lead for the first time in the top of the sixth inning by scoring three runs (one unearned) on three hits. Matt Sinatro started the inning by reaching third base on an error. Giarratano then doubled to drive him in. After he advanced to third on a fly out he then scored on a wild pitch. Miroglio then hit an RBI single later in the inning to take the lead.
USF added four runs on two hits and an SCU error in the top of the seventh inning to take a 12-7 lead.
Up Next: Santa Clara will play a midweek game at Stanford on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. PT.
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