May 3, 2005
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Junior Dustin Realini hit a two-run double in the top of the ninth inning to give the Santa Clara University baseball team a 5-3 victory at Sacramento State in its final non-league road game of the season Tuesday at Hornet Stadium.
With the win, Santa Clara moved to 23-22 on the season and extended its season-long win streak to five straight. The Broncos return to Stephen Schott Stadium Friday for the first of a three-game West Coast Conference series against the University of San Francisco. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday, while Saturday and Sunday's contests will begin at 1 p.m. Tickets are on sale by calling the SCU Athletic Ticket Office at 408/554-4660 or by clicking here.
Redshirt freshman Chris Stansbury (3-0) earned the win for Santa Clara after pitching the final two full innings of the game and allowing just one hit and striking out two of the seven batters he faced. James Wheeler took the loss for Sacramento State, which fell to 18-28-1 on the season.
The Hornets put two runs on the board in the bottom of the second inning off Bronco starter Bryan Fleming. Sac State center fielder Brian Conradi reached on an error by SCU second baseman Eric Newton then came across the plate on a home run by catcher Matt Wilson.
It took Santa Clara a while to warm up as the Broncos were unable to manage a hit through the game's first three-and-a-third innings. In the top of the seventh, catcher Kris Watts singled to left field then advanced to second on a Newton walk. He moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by first baseman Nathan Faulkner. The bases were loaded when Ryan Chiarelli was hit by Hornet pitcher Marshall Plouffe.
With bases loaded, junior shortstop Kevin Drever singled down the left field line to tie the game at two runs apiece.
Sacramento State put another run on the board in the bottom of the inning with a solo home run by third baseman Billy Sinacori off Bronco reliever Scott Lonergan.
Santa Clara tied the game in the top of the eighth . Michael Thompson doubled to left field to leadoff the inning then came home when Faulkner hit a two-out singled to left field.
In the top of the ninth, Drever and Epidendio grounded out to start the inning before right fielder Jason Mattcucci singled to center then advanced to third on Thompson's second double of the game. The two baserunners then scored on Realini's double to give the Broncos a two-run margin of victory.
