March 11, 2009
DAVIS, Calif. - Geoff Klein posted a game-high three hits and three RBIs as the Santa Clara baseball team defeated UC Davis Wednesday afternoon at Dobbin Stadium. The Broncos scored runs in all but three innings with Jon Karcich registering a game-high three runs.
The Aggies (2-10) out-hit the Broncos (4-7) 15 to 13 in the slugfest. Senior Matt Long launched Santa Clara's first triple of the season. He is now just three triples away from entering the SCU all-time list. Fellow senior Juan Parra also had two runs and two RBIs along with one of two stolen bases.
On the mound, sophomore Joe Supple earned the win after 3.2 innings. He allowed two runs on five hits and tied his career-high three strikeouts. Freshman J.R. Graham closed out the game for the Broncos with two innings of work. He allowed just three hits, no runs and struck out four Aggies.
The Broncos were the first to score as David Abraham scored on a Klein single. Abraham doubled to left center field to get on base. The Aggies then tied the score and took a one run lead in the bottom of the first inning.
Santa Clara knotted the score as Graham scored on a Parra ground out. The Broncos tried to plate another run but Patrick Glenn was put out at home.
After a quick bottom of the second, SCU got back to work and added three runs in the third inning to take a 5-2 lead. Karcich scored on a Curtis Wagner double down the left field line. Klein followed on a ground out and Wagner scored the final run on an error by Aggie catcher Scott Kalush. The run was unearned.
However, UC Davis exploded in the fifth inning to take a 7-5 advantage. The Aggies scored five runs on five hits. The first two runs came on a Kalush triple to left field, which drove in Tony Bongiovanni and Scott Heylman. Grant Bauer then plated Kalush with a base hit and Kelly doubled to left centerfield to drive in the final two runs.
Yet, Santa Clara was clearly not done scoring yet as it tacked on eight more runs by the end of the game.
In the fifth inning, the Broncos claim the lead for good with three runs. Freshman Andrew Biancardi came in to pinch hit for Glenn and hit a deep single to right field that allowed Karcich and Wagner to knot the score. The one run advantage came on a Parra base hit, which plated Brady Fuerst.
SCU added another three runs in the eighth inning after successfully holding UC Davis scoreless.
In the eighth inning, Klein drove in another two runs with a single to right field. Abraham and Parra scored, though Abraham's run was unearned. Karcich then scored as the runner advanced around the horn on a balk. The Broncos led 11-8.
The final two runs of the game came in the ninth inning as Long tripled down the right field line to plate Parra and Graham. Both runners walked to get on base.
The Aggies did not give up without a final fight in the bottom of the ninth inning. Back-to-back batters singled to get on base, but Graham readjusted and struck out the next to batters. Yet, UCD loaded the bases Daniel Cepin reached on a wild pitch. With a 3-2 count, Ryan Scoma struck out swinging for the final out and the Bronco win.
Santa Clara returns to action this weekend with a three-game series against Cornell. The Broncos and Big Red begin with a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday, March 14. The series concludes on Sunday, March 15 with a 1 p.m. first pitch at Stephen Schott Stadium.
