Feb. 20, 2005
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara baseball team was finally able to get its series underway with 12th-ranked Washington on Sunday as the Broncos split a doubleheader with the visiting Huskies. In the first game, SCU posted a 5-2 victory before dropping a 13-2 decision in the second game. The Broncos improve to 7-4 after the two games, while Washington is 1-4 on the season.
Senior right-hander Kellan McConnell (1-1) earned his first win of the season in the series opener as SCU notched a 5-2 victory. McConnell recorded 10 strikeouts on the day without allowing a walk. In 7.2 innings of action, he allowed only one run on eight hits. Both the inning and strikeout totals were new season-highs.
Santa Clara provided McConnell with run support right off the bat. Ryan Chiarelli scored the first Bronco run in the first inning when Robert Perry doubled to left field. Chiarelli had reached on a lead-off single and advanced to second after an errand pick off attempt from Washington pitcher Tim Lincecum.
In the third, SCU added two more runs to its total to take a 3-0 advantage. Another lead-off single from Chiarelli started the Bronco rally. Perry would once again drive him in with a single after Chiarelli went to second on a passed ball and third on a sacrifice bunt. A single from Dustin Realini advanced Perry to third and he later scored on a sacrifice fly by Kris Watts.
With McConnell keeping the Huskies off the scoreboard through the first seven frames, the Broncos were able to stretch their lead to five run in the bottom of the sixth. A single from Michael Thompson, a walk and a hit batter would load the bases with n outs for Jason Matteucci. He would also be issued a walk to drive in the Bronco's fourth run of the game. A double play ball would eliminate the runner at first and second, but Thompson would come around to score, giving SCU a 5-0 lead heading into the seventh inning.
The Huskies were able to post a run in each of the final two innings, but they were unable to push any more across the plate and overcome the Bronco lead.
Closer Anthony Rea picked up his second save in as many games after a save against Sacramento State earlier in the week.
Offensively, Robert Perry paced SCU with two RBI in the game. He was also 2-for-3 at the plate with the game's only double. Chiarelli and Realini also added multiple hit performances to the Bronco attack.
In the second game of the day, Washington starter Kyle Parker was effective against the Bronco offense, allowing only two hits in the first six innings. Jordan Ponzoha relieved Parker and struck out six batters in the final three frames.
After posting a run in the second, third, fourth and sixth innings, the Huskies exploded for three runs in the seventh and six runs in the eighth to claim the 13-2 win. In the seventh, two singles and two doubles highlighted the inning, while Washington posted five hits to drive in the six runs in the eighth. A bases loaded triple from Brent Lillibridge brought in three of the six runs.
The Broncos scored both of their runs in the bottom of the seventh frame. Carl Bacon drove in both runs with a single to left center. Both Watts and Realini scored as they had singled and walked, respectively.
Nick Batkoski led Washington, going 4-for-6 on the day, while Lillibridge knocked in five runs.
Bacon paced SCU with the two RBI, while Perry hit his team-high fifth double in the contest.
The teams will wrap-up the three-game set tomorrow at Buck Shaw Stadium. Game time is set for 1 p.m.
