MORAGA, Calif. — Santa Clara baseball put baserunners aboard in all nine innings Friday afternoon, and scored one run in a 6-1 loss against the Saint Mary's Gaels at Louis Guisto Field. The Broncos scored their only run of the game on an RBI fielder's choice by Kyle Cortopassi in the ninth inning.
Reece Karalus (L, 1-6) allowed six earned runs on 13 hits with a walk and four strikeouts in 6.0 innings for the Broncos (18-26, 6-13 WCC). Saint Mary's starter Johnny York (W, 6-4) threw 8.1 innings and allowed an earned run on 11 hits with four walks and six strikeouts. Jason Seever struck out two batters in 2.0 scoreless innings, allowing only a hit and a walk to the Gaels (23-22, 9-13 WCC).
Nate Nolan opened the scoring in the home second inning with a two-out, two-run double down the left field line to put Saint Mary's ahead 2-0. Connor Hornsby and Davis Strong increased the lead to 4-0 with consecutive two-out, RBI singles in the third. After Nolan struck out swinging to start the fourth, Austin Piscotty homered to right center field and four batters later, Collin Ferguson hit an RBI single through the right side to make the score 6-0.
Ryan Budnick led off the ninth inning with a walk for the Broncos and Grant Meylan hit a one-out double to put runners on second and third base. The Gaels called on Billy Oxford out of the bullpen, and Meylan was tagged out at third on the Cortopassi fielder's choice before Jose Vizcaino, Jr. grounded out to end the ballgame.
Santa Clara had five batters record multiple hits and seven batters reach base safely multiple times in the loss. Budnick went 2-for-3 with a walk while Meylan, Vizcaino, Jr., Jake Brodt and TC Florentine all hit safely twice. Cortopassi went 1-for-4 with an RBI and a walk, and Stevie Berman drew a pair of walks in the loss.
Zach Kirtley and Hornsby each went 3-for-4 for the Gaels. Jackson Thoreson and Collin Ferguson finished the game with two hits apiece.
The Broncos and Gaels return to the diamond for a 1 p.m. PDT first pitch Saturday. RHP Eric Lex (3-4, 5.56 ERA) takes the hill for the Broncos against RHP Corbin Burnes (6-4, 2.59 ERA) for the Gaels.
GAME NOTES: First pitch was at 2:59 p.m. … time of game was 2:35 … attendance was 172.
