April 16, 2005
LOS ANGELES, Calif. - The Santa Clara baseball team set season-highs in both runs and hits today as they posted an 18-6 West Coast Conference win over Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles, Calif. The Broncos have now won three straight contests and improve to 17-19 overall and 3-10 in conference play. The Lions fall to 14-20 and 6-7 in WCC action.
The Broncos scored a run in eight of the nine innings of the contest as their 18 runs set a new season-high. SCU's 24 hits were also a new record in 2005, eclipsing the previous mark of 17 hits, which was set in the season opener on January 29.
Kevin Drever, Shawn Epidendio and Dustin Realini highlighted the Bronco offense as each one drove in four runs in the contest. Drever was perfect at the plate, going 5-for-5 with a double. For the second straight game, the Salinas native started a scoring rally in the first inning with a leadoff single. He is currently on an eight-game hitting streak, the longest on the Bronco squad this season.
Realini recorded a 4-for-5 performance with two doubles and three runs scored. One of his doubles was a bases loaded, three-RBI double in the top of the seventh which capped a five-run inning for the Broncos.
Epidendio, who had started the last two games in left field, was 4-for-6 in the contest. Two of his four RBI were recorded in the top of the ninth inning with his first home run of the season. He also added a double to his total today.
Eight of the nine batters in the Bronco lineup tallied a hit today, as five Broncos recorded multiple hits in the game. Michael Thompson, along with Realini, crossed home plate three times in the game, while Eric Newton stole two bases on the day.
The three-game series will continue on Sunday with a 1 p.m. contest at George C. Page Stadium on the campus of Loyola Marymount University. Senior right-hander Kellan McConnell will get the start on the mound for the Broncos.
