March 7, 2001
by Keith Candau
Media Relations Student Assistant
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara University baseball team dropped a 4-1 decision to the Chicago State Cougars Wednesday night. Cougar pitcher Nick Gaitano, a native of Pittsburgh, Calif., threw a complete game striking out seven batters. Gaitano limited Santa Clara to six hits in the game. The Broncos are now 2-15 on the season while the Cougars improve to 1-5.
Freshman pitcher Kellan McConnell started for the Broncos. He only gave up two runs and four hits in five and a third innings pitched. McConnell fanned seven batters and only walked one in a losing effort. Dave Mallen came in relief in the sixth inning. He pitched one and a third innings allowing the other two Cougar runs. Senior Jim DeMartini and junior Grant Feichtmeir shut down the Cougars in the last two and one third innings of the game. DeMartini was retired four straight batters, while Feichtmeir retired three.
The Cougars leadoff batter, Jerald Brock, opened the game with a single. Three batters later, Gaitano gave himself an early 1-0 lead when he knocked in Brock with a single to right-center field. The Broncos tied the game in the fifth when sophomore Jack Headley singled to center field scoring Joe Diefenderfer. Chicago State answered right back in the sixth when Jarrod Bordi singled in Gaitano to regain the lead 2-1. The Cougars added to their lead in seventh off of a sacrifice fly by Kevin McKinney and an RBI single by Danny Newgent.
The Broncos were led offensively by Headley who went 1-for-5 with the only Bronco RBI. Gaitano led the Cougars in batting going 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Brock also had two hits, he went 2-for-5.
Santa Clara is next in action on Friday, March 9 when they start the WCC season with a three-game home series against USF. Friday's game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. while Saturday and Sunday's games are scheduled to start at 1 p.m.
