April 5, 2008
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara baseball team rallied from a one-run deficit in the sixth inning to storm past Portland 14-4 Saturday night in West Coast Conference action. The Broncos produced 12 runs on 11 hits in their half of the inning to win the game. With the victory, SCU improved to 17-10 on the season and 3-2 in league play, while the Pilots dropped to 15-16 overall and 1-4 in WCC play. The weekend series is now tied 1-1.
Jon Karcich led the Broncos offensively going 3-for-4 with four runs and three RBIs. Nathan Faulkner was 4-for-5 with two runs, while Matt Long also went 4-for-5 with two runs and four RBIs. On the mound, Steve Kalush posted the win for the Broncos in relief. He tossed 1.1 innings allowing just one hit and struck out three Pilots.
After a quick one and a half innings, the Broncos put themselves on the scoreboard in their half of the second inning. A Brady Fuerst RBI single through the left side brought home shortstop Karcich.
It was until the fourth inning, however, that Portland tied the score, 1-1. Kevin Armijo scored on a Rocky Gale single through the right side. Yet, Santa Clara closed out the inning taking a one-run lead. Karcich scored his second run of the game to make the score, 2-1. He got on base with a single to second base and then advanced home on a Long single through the left side.
The tide turned in the top of the fifth inning as the Pilots tacked on two more runs to take the lead. Bryant Kraus hit a two-run homer to left center field, allowing Riley Henricks to score as well. Portland led, 3-2.
The Broncos then exploded for 12 runs in the sixth inning to take an 11-run lead. The Broncos nearly went through the lineup twice, sending up 17 batters. Santa Clara tallied their 12 runs on 11 hits including a three-run homer to left field from Karcich. It was his fifth home run of the season and his fourth run of the game.
Karcich scored first for the Broncos on a Long single through the right side. With the bases remaining loaded, Evan LeBlanc walked to advance Faulkner for the game-winning run. The Broncos led 4-3. Ryan Conan registered an RBI single through the left side to bring home Fuerst. Long followed on a Gabe Alcantar single through the right side. After Karcich's homer, Long tripled in his second at-bat of the inning to bring home Fuerst and Faulkner. The Broncos lead 12-3.
The Broncos tacked on two more runs to end the inning. Long scored on a LeBlanc double to right field, while LeBlanc then scored on a Tommy Medica single up the middle. SCU led 14-3.
The Pilots added on one more run in the eighth inning to make the final score 14-4. SCU out-hit Portland 21-9.
The loss went to Portland's Mark Triolo. He pitched five innings for the Pilots allowing four runs on nine hits and striking out just three Broncos.
The Broncos and Pilots bring the weekend series to a close on Sunday, April 6 at 1 p.m. at Stephen Schott Stadium.
