March 21, 2009
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara baseball team improved its win streak to six games with a doubleheader sweep of Dartmouth on Saturday at Stephen Schott Stadium. The Broncos (9-7) won the first game 11-6 and took the second game 3-0. The Big Green dropped to 0-7.
Weather permitting the Broncos and Big Green will bring the series to a close on Sunday, March 22 at 1 p.m. Fans, please check www.SantaClaraBroncos.com for information on a possible delay or cancellation.
On the mound, juniors Nate Garcia (4-1) and Alex Rivers (2-0) earned the wins. Garcia tossed the first game, going 6.1 innings and striking out five batters. Rivers compiled seven no-hit, no-run innings. He struck out a career-high 11 batters. Redshirt freshman Jason Westerberg and junior Steve Kalush recorded saves.
The losses went to Robert Young (0-2) and Collin Britton (0-1).
In game one, Juan Parra was a home run short of hitting for the cycle. He was 4-for-4 at bat with two runs and three RBIs. Matt Long drove in a game-high four RBIs in game one, while Curtis Wagner scored a game-high three runs.
In game two, Long scored a game-high two runs.
Game 1
Dartmouth - 6
Santa Clara - 11
The Big Green scored first in the second inning and then took a 2-0 lead in the third inning. Raymond Allen and Jeff Onstott registered the runs for Dartmouth. Geoff Klein drove in his first run of the game with a base hit through the right side. Senior Parra scored on the play. He got on base with his first triple of the year.
Despite the rain that began in the fourth inning, the two teams played on. The Broncos got out of the top of the inning quickly and the knotted the score, 2-2. Wagner was plated on a single from David Abraham. The score remained tied, 3-3, through the fifth inning as SCU and Dartmouth battled the spring elements. Onstott and Jon Karcich each scored a run.
The Broncos then exploded for four runs in the sixth and seventh innings. Wagner walked to start off the sixth and J.R. Graham followed with a base hit. The bases loaded as Abraham bunted down the third base line. All three runners were then brought home as Parra doubled down the left field line. The final run of the inning was scored as Long flew out to right field on the sacrifice to bring plate Parra. Santa Clara led 7-3.
Dartmouth made it a one-run game in the top of the seventh as Allen homered to left field to bring home Onstott and Mike Pagliarulo.
Yet, Santa Clara had the final say in the bottom of the seventh. James Heintz came in to pinch run for designated hitter Andrew Biancardi. Heintz then scored as Wagner doubled to centerfield. With a bunted base hit from Abraham, Wagner scored. The Broncos continued to move around the bases and with a single up the middle from Long, Abraham and Graham scored for the final two runs of the game.
Game 2
Dartmouth - 0
SCU - 3
SCU registered its second shutout of the season in the second game of the day. Santa Clara started off strong as Long scored on a base hit from Klein.
The Broncos' second run of the game came in the sixth inning when Brady Fuerst scored on a double by Biancardi. Long then scored again in the seventh inning as Karcich doubled down the left field line.
Rivers pitched seven innings, allowing no hits until the top of the seventh inning. Fellow junior Kalush came in for relief and, although the bases loaded, he allowed no runs.
