Posted: Feb 22, 2019
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Brendan Ecklebarger pitched five strong innings in his Santa Clara baseball debut and combined with three relievers to hold Washington State to just two runs to lead the Broncos to a 4-2 win on Friday night.
Ecklebarger (1-0), a junior college transfer from Bellevue College, scattered six hits, one walk and allowed two runs over five innings to pick up the win and helped Santa Clara (1-4) to its first win of the season and evened the four-game series with the Cougars (1-5) at one game each.
In the third, RBI singles by Jason Dicochea (2-for-4, 2 R, RBI) and Matt Jew (1-for-2, RBI) off of Washington State starter Ky Bush broke a 2-all tie as neither teams scored after that inning.
Freshman designated hitter Cam Allie (1-for-4, R), who made his first Bronco start, lead off the third inning with a double and came home on Dicochea's RBI single to give the Broncos a 3-2 lead. Dicochea then stole second and advanced to third on Ryan McCarthy's fly ball to centerfield before scoring on Jew's infield single to short to give the Broncos a two run lead.
After allowing two runs in the first inning on a 2-RBI double by Kyle Manzardo (1-for-4, 2 RBIs), Ecklebarger settled down to pitch four scoreless innings as he and the rest of the staff, Michael Praszker, Russell Grant II, and closer Eric Lex, allowed only one hit over the final four frames.
Closer Eric Lex got the final five outs to pick up his first save of the season. The Cougars threatened in the ninth when Garrett Gouldsmith led off the inning with a double but the Bronco closer retired the next three Cougars, stranding Gouldsmith at second to finish the game.
NEXT UP
The third of the four-game series continues on Saturday at 1 p.m. when Keegan McCarville (0-1, 8.31 ERA) takes the mound for the Broncos against Dylan Steen (0-1, 14.73 ERA).
INTERVIEW/HIGHLIGHTS | Brendan Ecklebarger after picking up his first win as a Bronco! #StampedeTogether #SCUBroncos pic.twitter.com/DXQDT7GKIC
— Santa Clara Baseball (@SCU_Baseball) February 23, 2019
TICKETS
Season or single-game tickets are available. Click here to purchase online or contact the ticket office in Leavey Center weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. at (408) 554-4660 or BroncoTickets@scu.edu. Group discounts are also available through our ticket office sales and service consultants. Gates to Stephen Schott Stadium, as well as its ticket booth, are open one hour prior to the start of the game.
PARKING
Parking is available in the Guadalupe lot, adjacent to 455 El Camino Real. The Guadalupe lot is reserved beginning 60 minutes before game time through the end of the event for free parking. Baseball parking is no longer allowed in the lot behind Schott Stadium's left field wall. Overflow parking is available in the Leavey Center lot. Spectators that plan to arrive more than an hour prior to game time on weekdays are encouraged to purchase a parking permit for the Leavey lot. All SCU lot parking is free on weekends. ADA parking is available in the lot directly in front of the main gates; there is no general public parking in this lot. Follow signs for parking instructions. Click here for a campus parking map.