SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Santa Clara baseball scored double-digit runs for the second time in as many games and used a career effort from righthander Freddie Erlandson to defeat Cal Poly 10-1 Tuesday night at Schott Stadium. The Broncos scored six runs in the fifth and Erlandson tossed six shutout innings in relief to help the team improve to 3-1 in midweek contests this season.
The Broncos (13-14) broke a 1-1 tie and took command of the game by scoring six runs on six hits in the fifth. Tyler Meditz gave Santa Clara its first lead by hitting an RBI sacrifice fly to right field against Cal Poly reliever Andrew Bernstein (L, 0-1). Jake Brodt, Kert Woods and Ryan Budnick added RBI singles as part of the big frame that put the hosts on top 7-1.
Erlandson (W, 2-0) delivered career-best efforts with 6.0 innings pitched and three strikeouts. He limited the Mustangs (17-10) to two hits and did not surrender a walk while issuing 11 ground ball outs. The Bronco freshman retired 13 of the first 14 batters he faced; only Ben Polshuk reached for Cal Poly on a two-out error in the second inning during that stretch.
"What a great night for Freddie," Santa Clara head coach Dan O'Brien said. "We're all so proud of how far he's come on the mound and also off the field. He's such a great young man and everyone was so happy for him tonight."
Cal Poly's Michael Sanderson hit an RBI single just past the reach of Brodt at first base to drive in his team's only run of the game in the first. TC Florentine tied it up with an RBI double down the right field line in the fourth. Pinch hitters added three runs in the Bronco eighth — Joe Becht hit an RBI triple and Matt Smithwick added a two-run homer to left center.
Kyle Cortopassi singled twice, reached base in all four of his trips to the plate and scored a run for Santa Clara. Florentine, Woods and Budnick each went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. The Broncos have plated 23 runs on 26 hits in their last two games.
"This is a very good offensive ballclub that's had a slow start, but is just starting to heat up," O'Brien said. "You can just feel it — this ballclub is really starting to come together. There's no doubt that our best baseball is in front of us."
Santa Clara returns to West Coast Conference play when it hosts Pepperdine this weekend at Schott Stadium. The series gets under way Friday night at 6 p.m.
GAME NOTES: First pitch was at 6:02 p.m. … time of the game was 3:05 … attendance was 459.
Connect with the Broncos on Social Media
Athletics: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
Baseball: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Go Broncos!
