Feb. 27, 2005
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Freshman Mike Stutes held Cal Poly scoreless through 8.1 innings and senior Anthony Rea recorded the last two outs to lead the Santa Clara baseball team to a 3-0 win over Cal Poly on Sunday afternoon at Buck Shaw Stadium. The win improves the Bronco's record to 9-6 on the season, while the Mustangs fall to 10-8.
Stutes (3-1) allowed only eight hits and struck out seven batters in 8.1 innings of action. It was a career-long outing and a career best mark in strikeouts.
Rea closed the game out for the Broncos collecting his second save in as many days. After setting a school record with 13 saves last season, the Palo Alto native already has four in 2005.
A three-run seventh inning accounted for all of the runs scored in the game. Designated hitter Carl Bacon started the rally with a leadoff single to left center field. Nathan Faulkner came in to pinch run for Bacon and made an immediate impact, stealing second base during the following Bronco at-bat. Ryan Chiarelli would then advance Faulkner to third base with a sacrifice hit.
Kevin Drever followed and hit a ground ball to Mustang third baseman Josh Lansford. An errand throw by Lansford allowed Drever to move to second and bring Faulkner across the plate. The Mustangs would then walk Robert Perry, who already had two hits in the contest. With runners at first and second, Shawn Epidendio drove them both in with a double to left center field. A double play would later end the inning, but three runs would be enough for the SCU win.
Perry, Bacon, Michael Thompson and Nic Crosta all had two hits in the game, while Perry and Epidendio both recorded doubles.
On Friday night, Santa Clara will begin a three-game series with San Jose State as part of the annual Rivalry Series. Friday night's game will begin at 6 p.m. at Municipal Stadium. The teams will return to Buck Shaw Stadium on Saturday for a 1 p.m. contest.
