Posted: May 05, 2021
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Santa Clara baseball hosts Pacific this weekend in the final West Coast Conference series at home this season with Senior Day on Sunday. The first pitch of the series opener is at 3 p.m. on Friday, followed by a 1 p.m. start on Saturday and a noon start on Sunday.
On Sunday, 11 Santa Clara and 15 Pacific seniors will be recognized in a pregame ceremony beginning at around 11:40 a.m.
The 11 Bronco seniors are - Holden Bernhardt, Locke Bernhardt, Tony Boetto, Mike Bowes, Brandon Buckley, Jason Dicochea, Russell Grant II, Ethan Heinrich, Jake MacNichols, Alec Olmstead and Alex Waldsmith. Additionally, five student-athletes who had their senior day in 2019 will also be recognized - Freddie Erlandson, Travis Howard, Ryan McCarthy, Matthew McGarry and Austin Reyes, along with student manager, Eric Riley.
The last two home series of the year against Saint Mary's (May 21-23) and San Francisco (May 28-30) are nonconference matchups since the Broncos faced them earlier as part of the WCC schedule.
Except for immediate family members of Santa Clara student-athletes, fans will not be permitted in Stephen Schott Stadium. The university will continue to evaluate policies for access to events. While the state of California announced guidance for outdoor seated venues on April 1, the university reserves the right to be more cautious than public health guidance
Pacific (12-27, 2-13) vs Santa Clara (13-25, 6-15)
Games #39-41 • Stephen Schott Stadium
Friday, May 7 • 3 p.m.
Saturday, May 8 • 1 p.m.
Sunday, May 9 • Noon
All-Time Series: Santa Clara leads the series 89-51 dating back to 1895. The two schools last met on April 12-14, 2019 at Schott Stadium where the Lions won all three games including a pair of one run games.
SANTA CLARA NOTES
• Santa Clara is averaging 4.8 runs per game with a .239 batting average. The team is giving up 5.3 runs a game with a 4.30 ERA allowing an opponent batting average of .240
• Nine different hurlers have started in the first 38 games led by Russell Grant and Freddie Erlandson with 11 each.
• Two players have started in all 38 games: Coleman Brigman (CF) and Jason Dicochea (SS). Dawson Brigman (2B) has played in 37 games.
• A Brigman brother (Coleman or Dawson) has batted leadoff in 49 of the last 55 games going back to the start of the 2020 season. Mike Bowes, JonJon Berring (twice) and Austin Reyes (3x) are the only other non-Brigman that has batted leadoff. Bowes was the opening day leadoff batter in 2020; Berring batted leadoff against Saint Mary's on April 17 and San Diego on April 24; and Reyes hit in the top spot against San Diego on April 25 and LMU on April 30 & May 2. Coleman Brigman has hit atop the line up in 48 games with older brother Dawson Brigman doing it in one game on Feb. 26 against Stanford.
• Four of the nine home runs hit by Jake MacNichols this season have come in the first inning including three-run homers in back-to-back opening innings against UC San Diego (March 13 & 14). The non-first inning home runs came against Sacramento State (March 4) in the seventh, against Gonzaga (March 20) and San Francisco (April 10) in the eighth, against Oregon State (March 23) in the fourth and against Portland (March 26) in the ninth.
• The Bernhardt twins picked up the win and the save in the series clinching win over Portland on March 28. RHP Locke Bernhardt came in relief for the win (3 2/3 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 6 K) and LHP Holden Bernhardt (2 IP, 1 H, 3 K) closed out the game. It was the first time the brothers earned a win and picked up a save in the same game.
• The Broncos travel just once out of state this regular season (played at Oregon State, March 23-24 & at Portland, March 26-28).
• National and Conference Rankings
-Jake MacNichols is tied for first in the West Coast Conference in home runs with nine.
-Cole Kitchen is tied for second in the conference with five wins.
-Russell Grant II is second in the conference with 5.65 hits allowed per nine innings.
-Freddie Erlandson is ninth in the conference with a 3.09 ERA.
-Santa Clara is third in the conference with 34 home runs, trailing leader Pepperdine by five.
ABOUT PACIFIC
After serving as the interim head coach during the 2020 COVID shortened season, Chris Rodriguez had the interim tag removed and was named the head coach in June, 2020.
Last season, the Tigers finished 8-9 and are 12-27 this year including 2-13 in WCC play.
Pacific is hitting .251 on the year, led by James Arakawa's .364 average. Alex LeForestier (.325) and Thomas Gavello (.310) are hitting over .300
Gavello leads the team with seven home runs and is second in RBIs with 20, trailing Charles Middleton (.265 BA) by one.
The pitching staff has a 6.25 ERA and allowing the opponents to hit for a .304 average.
Nick Swanson (2-2, 2.70 ERA, 15 appearances), Grant Stevens (2-0, 3.56 ERA, 16 apperances, five starts), Hayden Pearce (2-6, 4.36 ERA, 10 starts) and Zach Patterson (2-0, 4.86 ERA, 15 appearances) each have two wins to lead the team. Swanson tops the team in saves with four.
Defensively, the Tigers have committed 41 errors on the season and has a .971 fielding percentage.
SCHEDULE UPDATE
Monday's game against Arizona has been canceled due to logistical hurdles with scheduling. After the Pacific series, the Broncos will next play at Pepperdine (May 14-16).
GAMEDAY INFORMATION |
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| Live Stream / Video |
Friday (pregame interview with INF Dawson Brigman) Saturday (pregame interview with LHP Nick Sando) Sunday (pregame interview with RHP Ethan Heinrich) |
| Live Stats | |
| Santa Clara | |
| PACIFIC | |
