SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Santa Clara baseball dropped the final game of the season at Stephen Schott Stadium by a score of 15-9 against No. 9/11 Stanford. The Cardinal scored five runs in the first three innings and then broke out for seven runs in the sixth inning to put the game away.
Stanford (34-14, 15-9 Pac-12) scored just two batters into the game and never looked back. Santa Clara (13-37, 9-15 WCC) cut the lead to one after the fifth inning but Stanford responded with seven runs in the top of the sixth.
Erik Miller earned the win for Stanford, throwing the first two innings in a bullpen game for the Cardinal. He allowed one earned run and a walk while striking out three batters.
Stanford's leadoff batter Matt Winaker was hit by a pitch and then came around to score from first base on a double by Nico Hoerner to give the Cardinal a 1-0 lead.
The Cardinal added three runs in the top of the second inning to extend the lead. Winaker and Hoerner were involved once again as both drove in runs.
SCU got on the board in the bottom of the second inning on an RBI single by junior shortstop Austin Fisher to bring senior left fielder Tyler Meditz home.
Jesse Kuet hit a two-out single in the top of the third inning to drive in two runs and push the Cardinal lead to 6-1. Stanford drove in eight runs with two outs on the night. They went 8-for-15 at the plate with runners in scoring position.
Junior Jake Brodt hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the third inning to score sophomore third baseman John Cresto to cut the lead to 6-2.
SCU cut the lead to one after a three-run inning in the bottom of the fifth. Meditz hit an RBI single to score Nnebe and then sophomore right fielder Matt Smitwick tripled to drive in two runs and trim the lead to 6-5.
Stanford loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the seventh inning and scored on a wild pitch and then a two-RBI single to push the lead back to 9-5. They tacked on four more runs before the inning ended.
Cresto belted a three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning to get the Broncos within in five of the Cardinal. It was the 11th home run of the season for Cresto.
SCU tacked on an unearned run in the eighth inning via RBI single by junior designated hitter Niko Holm.
Stanford scored two more runs in the top of the ninth to end the game's scoring.
Up Next: Santa Clara heads to St. Mary's for the final series of the season. The three-game set begins on Friday at 3 p.m. PT in Moraga, California.
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