SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The bats stayed hot and Santa Clara won its second midweek game in as many days, 9-2 over Washington State on Wednesday. It was the fourth win in the last five games for the Broncos.
A night after scoring 12 runs, Santa Clara (13-7) put up nine on 11 hits while continuing their solid approach at the plate with six walks. The Broncos used a five-run fourth where they batted around and then added three more in the fifth.
Robert Hipwell got the runs going in the fourth with his first career home run, a two-run blast to left that turned a deficit into a 3-2 lead. Later, with the bases loaded, Matt Jew knocked in all three with a double to left center to extend the advantage.
Jew finished with a pair of hits and four RBIs. Michael O'Hara also had two hits and two RBIs while scoring a run and Efrain Manzo was 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored.
The pitching was good as well. Alex Reelfs made the start and picked up a win. In 6 innings, Reelfs (2-3) allowed two runs on four hits with a walk and 10 strikeouts. Cade Pilchard went the final 3 innings to collect the save. He allowed no runs on two hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
With 13 combined strikeouts, it was the third game in a row Bronco pitching reached double-figures in punchouts and the fourth time in the last five games.
The Cougars (9-11) used a two-out rally in the fourth to take the lead. A bloop just fell in for Kyle Russell and Jack Smith followed with a single of his own. Both came home on a double off the wall by Bryce Matthews, one of his two hits in the game.
Elias Farland (0-2) got tagged with the loss as the first man out of the bullpen. He allowed three runs on a hot with two walks but did strikeout five in 1 2/3 innings. Starter Cooper Barnum lasted just 1 2/3 innings and allowed a run on four hits with two walks and one strikeout.
INTERVIEW
Make it 5 wins in 7 games for the #BroncoBoys after knocking off Wazzu tonight 9-2. Here's head coach Rusty Filter after his team scored 21 runs in two nights heading into a huge home weekend with LMU.#BroncoBoys #SCUBroncos #StampedeTogether pic.twitter.com/bcrSqGsHG1
— Santa Clara Baseball (@SCU_Baseball) March 24, 2022
NEXT UP
Santa Clara begins a three-game series with LMU Friday from Schott Stadium at 6 p.m.
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