April 23, 2001
PORTLAND, Ore. - The Santa Clara University baseball team began its West Coast Conference game at the University of Portland Sunday at 1 p.m. Following a 23-hour delay due to inclement weather, the two teams finally finished the three-game series Monday afternoon with the Pilots earning a 10-1 win at Pilot Stadium.
WCC rules mandate that all league games between non-divisional opponents must be completed in order to determine the divisional champions at the end of the regular season. The game was halted at 2 p.m. Sunday after a brief rain delay. It was resumed Monday at 1:06 p.m. and was completed at 2:45 p.m.
Pilot pitcher Zach Yarborough (3-1) recorded a career-high 10 strikeouts in earning his third win and first complete game of the season. Starter Matt Travis (1-9) took the loss for Santa Clara. Kellen McConnell came on in relief in the bottom of the second inning and gave-up five hits and five runs in 4.1 innings pitched. Jim DeMartini closed-out the game for the Broncos, allowing just one hit in two complete innings.
Joe Diefenderfer scored the games's first run off a Matt Queen single in the top of the first inning. After reaching on an error, Diefenderfer advanced to second on a Mike Theoharis single. After the score, Alex Anderson singled to right field and Theoharis was thrown out at home plate.
Portland scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning then added three runs in the bottom of the second, all off Travis. Cory Lunde walked to begin the game then rounded the bases on Eric Hull's first home run of the season. In the second, Travis faced seven batters and gave-up four singles in Portland's three-run half of the inning. McConnell came on in relief and faced one batter.
Portland loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth inning on back-to-back sacrifice bunts by Steve Chamberlain and Brock Griffin. Matt Coleman scored the first run of the inning for the Pilots when Lunde was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Eric Hull drove in two runs with a double to left centerfield, scoring Chamberlain and Griffen. Hanson gave the Pilots a 10-1 lead with a two RBI single down the right field line before forcing a double play on batter Kory Casto to end the inning.
Santa Clara is scheduled to play a single game at Sacramento State Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Hornet Stadium.
