April 21, 2001
PORTLAND, Ore. - The Santa Clara University baseball team equaled its West Coast Conference win total from a year ago with a 12-4 victory in the second game of a three-game series at the University of Portland today at Pilot Stadium.
With the victory the Broncos improve to 17-24 on the season and 12-8 in the WCC's Coast Division, equaling the Broncos' win total in league play last season. In 2000, Santa Clara finished with a 12-18 WCC record. Santa Clara remains in at least a tie for first-place in the division depending on the outcome of today's doubleheader between San Francisco and Pepperdine. Portland falls to 16-24 on the season and 5-14 in the WCC's West Division.
Freshman John Redmond (4-3) earned his fourth win of the season for Santa Clara after going seven complete innings and allowing just one run on eight hits and striking out three Pilot batters. He also helped his cause with assists on five putouts. Matt Hollod (2-5) took the loss for the Pilots after pitching one-and-a-half innings and giving-up six Bronco hits and four runs.
"We hit the ball well today and looked good in the field for most of the game," said Head Coach Mike Cummins. "We got another great performance from John Redmond on the mound. He continues to do a good job for us and give us a chance to win games. When we back our pitching up with some runs, good things tend to happen."
The Broncos opened the game by scoring three runs in the top of the first inning. Following back-to-back singles by Jack Headley and Joe Diefenderfer to start the inning, Mike Theoharis drove in Headley with a single to right field followed by an errant throw by Pilot right fielder Brock Griffin. The Broncos' next batter, Matt Queen, drove Diefenderfer and Theoharis home with a single to centerfield to give Santa Clara the early lead.
Headley's two-out double to left centerfield scored catcher Norm Hayes in the top of the second inning, giving the Broncos a 4-0 lead. Following a walk of Theoharis, Portland made a pitching change, sending Hollod to the bench and bringing Kyle Bebout to the mound. Queen knocked-in his third RBI of the game on a single to center field off Bebout before Joey Gomes flew-out to center to end the inning.
Santa Clara exploded for five runs in the fourth inning. Mike Balestreri led-off the inning with a single to left field. Theoharis and Queen reached on walks to load the bases followed by a Gomes walk that scored Balestreri. Miller knocked-in Queen and Theoharis on a fielding error by Pilot shortstop Eric Hull. Kellen McConnell made the score 10-0 on a two-run single to left field. Santa Clara added its 11th run in the top of the fifth inning on a Theoharis single to left field that scored Balesteri.
Portland earned its first run of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning. Outfielder Matt Allen reached first on a fielding error by Theoharis. He advanced to second on a single by Kori Castro and was knocked home on a single by Wade Hickson. The Pilots put two runners on base before Nick Thede grounded out to Theoharis to end the inning.
Headley rounded out the scoring for Santa Clara with a solo home run in the top of the ninth inning, his first of the season. The Broncos' 12 runs in the game ties for their second-best offensive output of the season. Santa Clara scored a season-high 13 runs in a 13-2 win at Saint Mary's.
Portland added three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning. Following two walks allowed by reliever A.J. Ampi, Pilot catcher Brock Griffin his second home run of the season over the 285-foot right centerfield wall.
Queen went 2-for-4 in the game with three RBI, while Headley finished the day going 3-for-6 with two runs batted in. Miller and McConnell also recorded two RBI each for the Broncos.
The two teams will play the final contest of the three-game series Sunday at 1 p.m. at Pilot Stadium.
