March 27, 2010

Final Stats |  Action Photos  | Game One Recap | Interview: Sunday Starter Chris Mendoza

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Princeton's offense came alive in the second half of Saturday's double-header and the Tigers avenged two lopsided losses at the hands of host Santa Clara by beating the Broncos 16-8.

Princeton (5-12) had scored just seven runs in the previous two games at Schott Stadium and was out-scored 31-7 before posting season-high numbers in hits (17) and runs (16) during Game Three. The four-game set will conclude Sunday at 1 p.m.

Jon Broscious hit two solo homers and Brian Berkowitz's bases-clearing, 3-RBI drive down the right field line helped the Tigers establish an early lead. Berkowitz added a two-run homer in the ninth to finish the day with five RBI.

Santa Clara (10-11) starter Jon Hughes was lifted after Broscious hit his second drive, which led off the fourth. It was the shortest outing of the year for Hughes (2-2), who allowed five hits and five runs in three innings.

Despite its pitching trouble it looked like Santa Clara would continue to overwhelm Princeton with its league-leading offense when SCU cut the lead to two at 6-4 in the fifth. Patrick Terry had hit a leadoff double and scored in the fourth then SCU added two more runs in the fifth on back-to-back RBI hits by Tommy Medica and Geoff Klein.

However, Princeton scored 10 times in the first six innings to hold leads of 6-1 and 10-4.

With the Tiger's offense supplying a six-run lead, Princeton's lefty starter Langford Stuber was able to hold on to a tentative three-run lead before being lifted in favor of Kevin Link, who retired all three batters he faced to get Stuber out of a jam in the sixth.

Stuber (1-1) was touched-up for 10 hits and seven runs but Link was terrific in long relief, working four complete innings of 1-hit ball. Link picked up his first save.

GAME NOTES: UT Tommy Medica's hitting streak has reached 14 games - best in the WCC this season... Medica stole two bases in Game One of the double-header and another in Game Two to increase his season total to nine (he's 9-for-9 on the year)... 1B Curtis Wagner doubled twice Saturday night and continues to lead the WCC in hitting (.469 BA)... 2B Evan Peters had two doubles on the day and finished Saturday night's game 3-for-5... Santa Clara used six relievers who combined to give up 11 runs on 12 hits.