Feb. 16, 2005
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara baseball team posted a 7-4 victory over Sacramento State on Wednesday afternoon at Buck Shaw Stadium. The game had been moved to Wednesday after wet weather kept the teams off the field on Tuesday. With the victory, SCU improves to 6-3 on the season, while the Hornets fall to 2-5.
The Broncos dug themselves out of a 2-0 deficit after the Hornets scored a run in each of their first two innings. In the bottom of the second, SCU broke onto the scoreboard as a one-out double from Michael Thompson started the rally. A single through the right side of the infield from Kevin Drever brought in Thompson from second, cutting the Hornet lead in half. After two innings, SCU trailed 2-1.
A three-run home run from Bronco catcher Kris Watts broke open the game for SCU in the bottom of the fourth. Robert Perry led off the frame with a walk before Dustin Realini singled a batter later. Watts would then hit his first round tripper as a Bronco to drive in three runs and give Santa Clara a 4-2 advantage.
Sacramento State added a run in the top of the fifth, but three more SCU runs in the bottom of the frame would close the door on the Hornet rally. Perry drove in Ryan Chiarelli for the first run of the inning with a single through the right side. Chiarelli had reached base on a bunt single. Realini would then drive in two more runners with a double down the left field line, giving SCU a 7-3 lead.
One Hornet run scored in the top half of the ninth, but senior Anthony Rea would shut the door on Sacramento State. Rea struck out two batters, including the final batter of the game to record his first save of the season.
Reliever Scott Lonergan picked up his first win of the season, throwing two scoreless innings and striking out three. Redshirt freshman Chris Stansbury made the start for the Broncos and pitched 4.1 innings with three strikeouts.
Watts led SCU at the plate, going 3-for-4 with three RBI, a triple and a homer. Realini and Drever both added multiple hit games as Drever extended his hitting streak to a team season-high seven games.
Due to an inclement weather forecast for Friday, the Broncos have cancelled their Friday night contest against Washington. Instead, SCU and UW will play a doubleheader at Buck Shaw Stadium on Saturday, starting at noon. Sunday's game is still scheduled for 1 p.m.
