Feb. 27, 2010
HOUSTON, Texas - Santa Clara dropped a heartbreaker to Houston Saturday night at Cougar Field, 3-2. Tied with two outs in the ninth and Bronco closer J.R. Graham on the mound, Joel Ansley reached on an infield single then scored on a a pair of Bronco errors as he attempted to steal second.
Ansley rounded third and scored the winning run before centerfielder Lucas Herbst could throw him out at home. Herbst and catcher Geoff Klein were charged with errors on the play.
The loss spoiled a strong pitching performance by Alex Rivers, who threw eight innings of two-run baseball before Graham took over in the ninth. Santa Clara (1-4) has now lost each of its first two series to open the 2010 season.
Houston (2-3) has rebounded to win twice against Santa Clara after being swept at home by Texas State last weekend.
Trailing 2-1 in the seventh, Santa Clara tied the game in similar fashion, plating an unearned run on a Houston throwing error. The Broncos had taken a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Herbst scored on a double-play ground out.
Four Cougar pitchers combined to limit the Broncos to four hits - but allowed SCU plenty of opportunities by issuing nine walks.
For the second consecutive weekend the Broncos enter Sunday trying to stave-off a series sweep.
