SAN DIEGO, Calif. — The Santa Clara Broncos held leads in the second and third innings of Tuesday's game at Tony Gwynn Stadium before big middle innings from San Diego State led the Aztecs to a 12-4 victory. The first in a two-game set was the second true road game of the season for the Broncos, who began a five game road trip Tuesday night.

Freshman left-hander Kevin George (L, 1-1) made his first collegiate start for the Broncos (9-15, 0-3 WCC) and threw 3.0 innings with three earned runs on five hits with no walks and one strikeout. Senior right-handed pitcher T.J. Kendzora (W, 3-0) earned the win in 6.0+ innings with three earned runs on five hits, one walk and four strikeouts for the Aztecs (18-6, 5-4 MWC).

Senior first baseman Quinton Perry hit a two-out homer to left in the second — his first of the season — to give the Broncos a 1-0 advantage. Two batters later, San Diego State junior catcher Brad Haynal led off the Aztec second with a homer to left center to pull the home team level at 1-1. 

Freshman shortstop Kyle Czaplak led off the third with a double and scored on a sacrifice fly from sophomore center fielder Kert Woods to put the Broncos back up 2-1. Junior center fielder Greg Allen and senior second baseman Tim Zier each recorded RBIs in the third to give the Aztecs a lead they would have the rest of the way. San Diego State scored five runs on four hits in the fourth, including one of four doubles by senior shortstop Evan Potter to make the score 8-2.

Santa Clara trailed 11-2 entering the seventh, and added a run when senior second baseman Zach Looney scored on a wild pitch. After an Aztec run in the bottom of the seventh, catcher Peter Summerville hit an RBI sacrifice fly in his first trip to the plate to drive in Woods in the eighth. Woods led the Broncos with two hits on the night.

The Broncos and Aztecs meet again Wednesday for a 3 p.m. first pitch from Tony Gwynn Stadium. Santa Clara's D.J. Zapata will make the start against a pitcher to be announced for San Diego State.

Game Notes: First pitch was at 6:07 p.m. … time of game was 3:07 … attendance was 374… Kendzora faced two batters in the seventh … Haynal finished a double shy of the cycle.