April 22, 2007
MALIBU, Calif. - With the chance to steal a crucial three-game series from the WCC-leading No. 11 Pepperdine Waves on the line, the Santa Clara baseball team gave the Waves all they could handle in Sunday afternoon's rubber game, but just couldn't muster any offense on a 2-0 loss in Malibu.
The Broncos (20-21, 6-6 WCC) return home this week for four games this week, beginning with Tuesday night's 6 p.m. contest against the Fresno State Bulldogs. SCU will continue WCC play next weekend, hosting Loyola Marymount for a three-game set.
Santa Clara starter Donald Brandt did his part Sunday, allowing only two runs on seven hits and striking out five in six and a third innings. But the Bronco offense struggled, getting only two hits, and never getting more than one baserunner on at any point of the game.
Waves starter Brett Hunter struck out seven over seven innings and walked only one to pick up his sixth win of the year. Jason Dominguez held the Broncos hitless and scoreless over the final two innings to pick up his 11th save of the year.
The Broncos missed their best chance to score in the first, as Matt Long doubled, and went to third on a wild pitch with one out. But a strikeout and fly out in the next two at-bats stalled the threat.
Pepperdine broke through in the fifth with the game's first run, as Ryan Heroy homered to left with one out. Brandt, though, recovered and held the Waves in check, but Pepperdine managed to get another run across in the seventh and chase Brandt as Mark Tracy singled to lead off the inning, and pinch runner Joseph Evans was driven in on Eric Thames' double to right-center.
For Brandt, it was his second loss of the season, dropping his record to 3-2 on the year.
