SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Santa Clara baseball shutout CSU Bakersfield 8-0 behind a trio of arms and three long balls to complete a series sweep on Sunday afternoon at Stephen Schott Stadium. 

 

Freddie Erlandson started on the bump for Santa Clara (12-5) and struck out a career-high tying six batters over five frames.  The big right-hander allowed just two base runners, both on hits, and extended his streak of consecutive scoreless innings pitched to 16 1/3 to start the season.  

 

The Broncos battered the Roadrunner starting pitcher Davonte Butler (2-2), who came into the game with a 2.30 ERA over 15 2/3 innings in three starts, for five runs.  SCU scored three runs in the third inning on an RBI single by Ryan McCarthy and a two-RBI double by Matt Jew.   They added two more in the fifth on Coleman Brigman's first career homer to give Erlandson a 5-0 lead. 

 

Freshmen relievers August Souza and Jared Feikes followed Erlandson to throw two scoreless innings each, giving up two hits and two walks to complete the shutout, but not without some defensive help.  

 

In the top of the sixth, CSUB (5-9) put runners at first and second when Cody Holtz was hit by an Erlandson pitch and Nick Grossman singled off Souza.  Tyler Jorgensen singled up the middle but a charging Coleman Brigman at centerfield threw a strike to catcher Matt Erickson to tag Holtz out at home to preserve the shutout.  

 

The Roadrunners continued its threat in the sixth by loading the bases but Souza struck out Daniel Carrozosa after a 12-pitch battle, stranding all three on bases.  

 

Jake MacNichols blasted a two-run homer in the seventh and Mike Bowes added a solo shot in the eighth to cap the scoring for the Broncos.  

-MacNichols' home run was his seventh of the season and 37th in his career leaving him one short of tying the school career home run record held by Kevin Dunton (1982-85).  

-The series was originally scheduled for four games but became a three-game series when Saturday's second game of the doubleheader was cancelled due to rain.