PHOENIX, Ariz. — Santa Clara baseball produced its highest run and hit totals for a single game this season in a 15-0 victory over Grand Canyon Wednesday night at Brazell Stadium. The Broncos scored 12 runs between the second and fourth innings, recorded 17 hits in the ballgame and limited the Antelopes to four hits in the series-clinching victory.
Santa Clara broke its single-game highs of 11 runs (Feb. 20 vs. Cincinnati) and 13 hits (March 1 vs. Eastern Michigan) in Wednesday's win.
TC Florentine put the Broncos (11-12) on the board with an RBI in the second inning and Braden Frankfort hit a two-run double to right to make the score 3-0 Santa Clara. T.J. Braff extended the lead to five runs by way of his third home run in 2015, a two-run shot to left. Starting pitcher Ethan Evanko allowed five runs (four earned) on five hits with two walks and three strikeouts for the Antelopes (14-12).
Santa Clara had its first seven batters reach base safely in a seven-run fourth. Jose Vizcaino, Jr. began the scoring in the big inning with a two-run double to left. After Braff's RBI single made the score 8-0, the next three Broncos to drive in runs did so with extra-base hits. Jake Brodt hit a two-run double to left field, Florentine drove in a run with a triple to right field and Austin Fisher hit a double to left field that gave the Broncos their 12th run of the game.
Bronco starting pitcher Peter Hendron allowed two hits and two walks with a strikeout in 4.0 shutout innings. Hendron (W, 2-1) allowed the leadoff hitter to get aboard in each of the first three innings, and held all other batters in those innings to 0-for-8 with a walk. He issued a 1-2-3 fourth to cap the outing.
Jason Seever struck out one in 2.0 scoreless innings while Josh Inouye, Alex Barden and Max Kuhns each pitched a shutout frame for the Broncos.
C.J. Jacobe hit a three-run homer to left in the eighth to make the score 15-0 Santa Clara. He tied Braff with a team-best three RBIs and Braff led all hitters by going 4-for-5 in the Bronco victory. Santa Clara's offense set season-best marks with six doubles and nine extra-base hits Wednesday.
Santa Clara returns home Friday to face Pacific in its third WCC series of the season. First pitch of the opener is 6 p.m., followed by start times of 6 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.
GAME NOTES: First pitch was at 2:30 p.m. ... time of game was 2:30 … attendance was 312.
