Posted: Mar 11, 2018
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Santa Clara baseball saw its seven game win streak come to an end, losing 4-1 against Sacramento State in the series finale on Sunday afternoon at John Smith Field. Despite the loss, the Broncos took the series, three games to one.
Sacramento State (6-10) scored three runs in the third inning and that's all they needed with the Hornets pitching staff limiting the Broncos to just three hits.
The Broncos (11-4) opened the game with a single by Joe Becht (1-for-3) against Sacramento State starter Austin Root, however, they would not get another hit until the fifth.
In the third, the Hornets scored its three runs on two hits and two errors from the left side of the Bronco infield.
Trailing 3-0 in the fifth, Evan Haberle (2-for-4, R) led off the inning with a double against Root who had retired 13 consecutive batters until that point. Haberle scored on a Hornets defensive miscue for the only run of the game for the Broncos. The senior got two of the three hits for the Broncos with the other one coming in the ninth.
Santa Clara threatened in the top of the ninth, putting the first two batters on base. Jake MacNichols was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, followed by Haberle's single to bring the game-tying run at the plate against Sacramento State reliever Tanner Dalton.
With one swing potentially tying the game, Dalton retired the next three Broncos, striking out Niko Holm, getting pinch-hitter John Cresto to line out to center and getting pinch-hitter Cory Moore to ground out to third.
Five Bronco pitchers scattered five hits, four runs of which two were earned. Bronco starter Alex Barden (0-2) who pitched four innings, giving up three runs, one earned, was saddled with the loss.
Root (2-1) got the win for the Hornets with Dalton getting the first save of the year.
Sunday's loss was the first road loss of the season for the Broncos who are now 2-1 away from Schott Stadium. Santa Clara will remain on the road playing at UC Davis on Tuesday. First pitch is at 2:30 p.m. PT.
