Posted: Mar 09, 2018
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Santa Clara baseball defeated Sacramento State, 9-3, to extend its win streak to six games to finish the nine game homestand with an 8-1 record. The Broncos used a big inning offensively and stellar pitching by starter Steven Wilson along with relievers Luke Martin-Resnick and Cade Negley to subdue the Hornets lineup to pick up the 10th win of the season.
In the third inning, the Broncos (10-3) scored five-runs and never looked back.
Down 1-0 in the bottom of the third, right fielder Matt Smithwick (3-for-3, 2 R, RBI) got the offense rolling for the Broncos when he hit an opposite field solo homer off Hornets starter Scott Randall to tie up the game.
Santa Clara then strung together four hits including RBI singles by Grant Meylan (1-for-5, R, RBI) and Jake Brodt (1-for-4, R, RBI). With runners at second and third, Jake MacNichols sent a high pop-up that the Randall dropped just in front of home plate, allowing two Broncos to score to cap off a five-run inning for Santa Clara.
Hornets tried to chip away at the Bronco lead, scoring a run a piece in the fourth and fifth innings but each time, Santa Clara had an answer scoring two runs in the home half of those innings to push the lead out to 9-3.
Reliever Cade Negley came into the game in the sixth inning with a six-run cushion and shutout the Hornets in his four innings of work. Negley allowed four hits, walked three while striking out four. The freshman from Butler, Pennsylvania was credited with a four inning save, the first of his Bronco career.
Wilson (3-0) picked up his third win of the season in a predetermined rotation. Meanwhile, Randall (2-2) took the loss for the Hornets.
The Broncos had a balanced attack offensively with eight players collecting at least a hit and seven players scoring at least one run. Smithwick and Jason Dicochea were the only players with multiple hits and runs scored.
The two teams will now play at Sacramento State's John Smith Field on Saturday and Sunday as part of the four game home-and-home series. Right-hander Alex Waldsmith (0-1, 3.97 ERA) will face Hornets righty Parker Brahms (1-0, 0.00 ERA) on Saturday. First pitch is at 6 p.m. PT.
HIGHLIGHTS/INTERVIEW | @Matt_Smithwick postgame on @TheWtv after the sixth straight win for the #SCUBroncos! Get a look at Smithwick's opposite field home run and more in this clip. #StampedeTogether pic.twitter.com/aa6EYzVxmR
— Santa Clara Baseball (@SCU_Baseball) March 10, 2018
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