April 17, 2005
LOS ANGELES, Calif. - After winning the first two games of the series, the Santa Clara baseball team could not hold on for the sweep, dropping the series finale by a 9-4 score at Loyola Marymount on Sunday. With their first West Coast Conference series win this weekend, the Broncos improve to 17-20 on the season and 3-11 in conference action. The Lions are now 15-20 on the year and 7-7 in WCC play.
The Broncos took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning. In the first of what would be three RBI on the day, Dustin Realini hit a solo home run to leadoff the frame. It was the infielder's fifth of the season, which is tops on the squad.
In the bottom of the third, LMU would score two runs to take the lead from SCU. However, after three scoreless innings, Santa Clara scored three runs in the top of the seventh to re-take the lead. A one-out single by Kevin Drever started the rally. David Hoffmire came in to run for Drever, who left the game going 3-for-3 at the plate. Another single, this time off the bat of Jason Mattuecci would move Hoffmire to second. After a fielder's choice by Kris Watts, SCU would have runners at the corners with two outs.
The first Bronco run of the inning would score a batter later when Michael Thompson's double brought Hoffmire home and moved Watts to third base. Then, Realini brought both runners in with a single to record his second and third RBIs of the game and give SCU a 4-2 lead.
The advantage would be short lived, however, as LMU scored seven runs over the next two innings to claim the 9-4 victory.
Drever recorded his second perfect day at the plate after a 5-for-5 performance on Saturday. The Salinas, Calif. native also stretched his team-high hitting streak to 10 games in the contest.
Realini paced SCU with three RBI as he put together a 3-for-4 day at the plate. Thompson also had multiple hits, going 2-for-5 with a run driven in.
Santa Clara will continue its seven-game road swing next week with a three-game WCC set at Saint Mary's. Friday's first pitch is set for 3 p.m.
