March 28, 2009
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara baseball team faced a tough 7-4 loss to Loyola Marymount Saturday night at Stephen Schott Stadium. With the win, LMU takes its first West Coast Conference series of the season.
Santa Clara's season record evened to 10-10 with the loss and it dropped to 0-2 in WCC play, while Loyola Marymount improved to 15-12 overall and 2-0 in league play.
The win went to Ramiro Carreon (2-0). He gave up just one run on three hits in 4.2 innings of relief. The loss went to Steve Kalush (1-2). The righty entered the game in the eighth inning in relief of starter Thain Simon. Kalush gave up five runs, three of which were unearned. Simon tossed seven innings for the Broncos, gave up two runs on eight hits and struck out three.
Sophomore Chris Morton, in his second start of the season at first base, went 2-for-3 with two runs and senior Matt Long had one run and one RBI.
LMU claimed a 1-0 lead in the third inning as Jonathan Johnson scored on a Ryan Hawthorne groundout.
Santa Clara responded in the fifth inning with three runs to take a two-run advantage, 3-1. The Broncos opened the inning with a walk to Morton. Back-to-back bunt single from Juan Parra and Long loaded the bases for SCU. Morton scored the tying run on a David Abraham groundout. Jon Karcich then drove home Parra with a single to right field. The third run of the game was plated by Long as he scored on a Geoff Klein double to left centerfield.
The Lions then made it a one-run game in the sixth inning as Ryan Wheeler scored on a Bronco error. Santa Clara held strong in the seventh inning; however, Loyola Marymount tied the score and took a four-run lead in the top of the eighth, 7-3. Angelo Songco, Ollie Enos, Shon Roe, Trevor Gee and Johnson tallied the runs for the Lions.
A late rally in the ninth inning for the Broncos tried to close in on the gap with the Lions. Morton scored his second run of the game on a sacrifice from Long. Morton got on base with a single and then advanced to second on a throwing error from LMU shortstop Roe.
The Broncos and Lions bring the series to a close on Sunday, March 29. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. A SCU autograph session and Comcast Run Around the Bases will be available for fans after the game.
