April 1, 2001
Courtesy Saint Mary's Media Relations
MORAGA, Calif. - The Santa Clara University baseball team (10-20/4-8 WCC) gave-up three walks and a leadoff homerun in the bottom of ninth inning to allow Saint Mary's to from behind to beat the Broncos (12-18/9-3 WCC) 6-5 at Louis Guisto Field.
The Broncos have won 10 of their last 13 games and lead the Coast Division of the West Coast Conference. Santa Clara's 9-3 league record is tied for the best in the WCC by virtue of a Pepperdine loss to Gonzaga on Sunday.
Trailing 5-4 heading into the bottom of the ninth inning, Gael center fielder Kaazim Summerville led off the inning with a solo homerun, off losing pitcher Anthony Rea (0-3), to right center to knot the game at 5-5. After a strikeout, shortstop Brett Wayne doubled down the left field line to put the winning run in scoring position with one out. After a wild pitch by Rea to move Wayne to third, Brian Finegan and Mike Reardon were walked intentionally to load the bases for Mark Teahen. Teahen took the count to 3-2 off reliever A.J. Ampi before drawing a bases loaded walk to end the game.
Unlike the first two games of the series, Saint Mary's struck early scoring two runs on the bottom of the first inning. Finegan, who walked to open the inning, scored on a one-out single by Teahen for the first run on the game. A Brian Houle double followed the next at-bat to put runners at second and third. Tim Spooner's sacrifice fly pushed Teahen across for the second run.
Santa Clara answered with a single run in the top of the third. Mike Theoharis doubled to open the inning, was moved to third by a sacrifice bunt and would score on a sacrifice fly by Jack Headley. The Broncos took the lead in the fifth inning, 3-2, on a two-RBI double by first baseman Matt Queen. Saint Mary's tied the game in the bottom half of the inning on a sac fly by Wayne that plated Summerville.
Santa Clara regained the lead in the top of the sixth inning on an RBI single by second baseman Mike Balestreri. The Gaels answered once again in the bottom of the seventh. After Summerville singled and stole second, Brian Vesce's one-out RBI single evened the score at 4-4. Santa Clara responded in the top of the eighth with a two-out RBI single by Jimmy Wallace to give the Broncos a 5-4 lead before handing the ball to closer Rea.
Saint Mary's junior pitcher Mike Byer went the distance for the Gaels to garner the win. For Byer all five runs were earned, he allowed nine hits, struck out two and walked six. Summerville ended the day 3-for-4 with 3 runs scored, a home run and two stolen bases. Teahen was 2-for-4 with two RBI and Vesce was 2-for-4 with one RBI.
For Santa Clara Thoeharis, Pat Peavey and Wallace all finished the day 2-for-4. Bronco starting pitcher Matt Travis pitched 6.1 innings allowing four earned runs on six hits. He had three strikeouts and walked one.
The Broncos will return to action on Tuesday, April 3 when they travel to Oklahoma State (23-9, 8-7 in the Big 12) for a two game series. First pitch Tuesday is scheduled for 5 p.m. (Pacific).
