March 5, 2005
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara baseball team continued its winning ways with a 9-4 victory over San Jose State at Buck Shaw Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Winners of their last three games, the Broncos improve to 10-6 on the season. The Spartans fall to 4-6-1 with the loss.
Santa Clara broke onto the scoreboard in the bottom of the third inning to take a 2-0 lead. Catcher Kris Watts drove in both runs with a single to right field as Robert Perry and Eric Newton both crossed home plate on the hit.
In the fourth inning, SCU added four runs to its total to take a commanding 6-0 advantage. A single from Michael Thompson and a walk to Jason Matteucci started the frame and forced San Jose State head coach Sam Piraro to make a pitching change. With Randy Waite taking the place of starter Branden Dewing, a walk was issued to David Hoffmire to load the basses. After an out, a wild pitch brought the first run across the plate. Perry then drove in the next three runs with a home run over the right center field wall. The round tripper was Perry's second of the season.
The Spartans posted their first run in the top of the fifth frame when Anthony Contreras's RBI double brought David Pierson home. After five innings, Santa Clara led 6-1.
The Broncos added three more runs to their tally in the bottom of the seventh and never looked back again. A two-out rally started on another single by Watts and continued with a walk to Ryan Chiarelli. With runners at first and second, Thompson brought both in with a double to right center field. A double, this time from Matteucci, later brought Thompson in to score and increased the SCU lead to eight runs.
In the top of the eighth, San Jose State added three more runs, but it would not be enough to overtake Santa Clara. A bases loaded double by Nick Epidendio drove in all three runs for the Spartans.
Kellan McConnell earned his second win of the season as he allowed only one run, which was unearned, in seven innings. He did not walk a batter and struck out three.
Perry led the Broncos with three RBI in the contest, while Watts has 3-for-3 at the plate. Both Watts and Thompson knocked in two runs as Matteucci and Thompson both had multiple hit performances.
The three-game series will continue with two games at San Jose Municipal Stadium. Sunday's game will begin at 1 p.m. and Monday's will start at 6 p.m.
