SAN FRANCISCO – Senior Jake Brodt hit a three-run home run in the top of the 11th inning to break a 5-5 tie to propel Santa Clara baseball to a 12-5 win over San Francisco and a series win at Benedetti Diamond on Saturday afternoon.
Brodt (1-for-6, 2 R, 3 RBIs), who was 0-10 in the series until his at-bat in the 11th, blasted the three-run shot with Joe Becht (3-for-6, R, 2 RBIs) and Jason Dicochea (1-for-7, 2 R) on base. Becht led the inning off with a single and Dicochea reached on a fielder's choice when the Dons tried to get the lead runner on Dicochea's bunt.
The three-run shot against Dons reliever Slominski kicked started a seven run inning for the Broncos (19-21, 6-11 WCC) that sent 11 batters to the plate. Becht had a two RBI double later in the inning to drive in the last runs of the game.
The game went to extra innings for the second day in a row when the Dons (23-20, 12-8 WCC) tied it up in the seventh, scoring three runs on a couple of Bronco miscues. With two outs and a runner at first, a throwing error by Bronco second baseman Austin Reyes put the runners at the corners in what was the last batter faced by Bronco starter Travis Howard.
Steven Wilson came in relief and struck out the first batter he faced, Tyler Villaroman, but the ball in the dirt got away from catcher Jake MacNichols as Villaroman safely reached first while the third base runner scored to cut the Broncos lead to 4-2. Riley Helland followed with an two-run double to tie the game up 4-4.
In the 10th frame, Santa Clara took the lead on John Cresto's solo homer but the Dons came right back in the home half of the inning on another Bronco miscue. Michael Perri led off the inning with a double off Wilson and as he was stealing third, an errant throw by MacNichols sailed into left field allowing Perri to score the tying run.
There were five errors in the game, two for the Broncos and three for the Dons as Santa Clara were also helped by the Dons misplays. Three of the first four runs scored by the Broncos were unearned.
Bronco starter Travis Howard had a solid outing going 6 2/3 innings, allowing four hits, walking two and striking out eight. Howard was charged with just one earned run, the only earned run allowed by the Bronco pitching staff on the day.
Wilson (4-1) earned the win striking out seven over 3 1/3 innings while giving up three hits and issuing three walks.
A total of four pitchers threw for the Broncos fanning the Dons hitters 16 times.
Eight Broncos collected hits including five with multi hits – Becht, Matt Smithwick (2-for-5, R, RBI), MacNichols (2-for-3, 2 R, 2 RBIs), Grant Meylan (2-for-5, R, RBI) and Reyes (2-for-6, R, 2 RBIs).
Today's 11 inning affair lasted four hours 12 minutes compared to the three hour two minute, 12 inning game on Friday. The Broncos are 6-1 in extra inning games this season.
The Broncos will look to sweep the Dons on Sunday sending right-hander Alex Waldsmith (0-4, 6.92 ERA) against Dons righty Landen Bourassa (5-3, 2.91 ERA).
