SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Two big offensive innings was enough for Santa Clara baseball to outlast Sacramento State, 10-6, on Sunday, earning a split in the four-game series between the teams.
Eamonn Lance went 2-for-5 and drove in four runs, including his first homer of the season, and Mike Bowes knocked in three for the Broncos (4-7) who scored four in the first and tacked on another six in the fourth inning.
Santa Clara snapped a 4-all tie in the bottom of the fourth when Jason Dicochea hit a grounder with the bases loaded to third baseman Steven Moretto whose throw home pulled the catcher off the plate to score Tony Boetto. After Bowes drove in a run with a groundout, Lance took a 1-0 offering from Sacramento State reliever Rylan Tinsley over the left field wall for a three-run homer.
The Hornets (7-4) tried to rally in the ninth. Jorge Bojorquez had an RBI single off reliever Travis Howard to cut the lead to 10-6. But with two aboard, Howard induced a fly ball from Ryan Walstad to end the game.
Alex Reelfs (1-0) earned win with 2 1/3 innings of work in relief of starter Jared Feikes who yielded three runs (one earned) in 1 2/3 innings. Howard picked up his second save in pitching the ninth.
Tinsley (1-1) suffered the loss in relief. He walked two and surrendered three runs in two innings.
Dawson Brigman went 3-for-4 and Michael O'Hara had three hits in five at-bats for the Broncos who have won three of their last five games.
Bowes' two-run double keyed the first inning offensive outburst, but the Hornets answered in the top half of the second with three runs. Keith Torres had a two-run double of Feikes and Bojorquez singled him home.
Santa Clara collected 12 hits following scoring one run combined in losing the previous two games of the series.
Bojorquez, Torres and Matt Smith each had two hits for the Hornets.
NOTES
• Santa Clara's 12 hits were its second-most of the season, trailing only the 13 vs. Stanford on Feb. 28. The run total was only surpassed by the 13 scored in that game.
��️ Hear from @realEamonnLance on today's 10-6 victory over Sacramento State!
— Santa Clara Baseball (@SCU_Baseball) March 8, 2021
Postgame interview presented by @ROATweets.#BroncoBoys #StampedeTogether #SCUBroncos pic.twitter.com/5zB0TUxEVO
HIGHLIGHTS | Peep the pop! Big hits all around in Sunday's victory over Sacramento State.#BroncoBoys #StampedeTogether #SCUBroncos pic.twitter.com/erBnuV6YsA
— Santa Clara Baseball (@SCU_Baseball) March 8, 2021
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