April 11, 2009
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
PORTLAND, Ore. - The Santa Clara baseball team completed their first West Coast Conference sweep of the season with doubleheader victories on Saturday at Portland. The Broncos won the first game of the doubleheader, 6-5, and held on for a 1-0 shutout in game two of the day.
With the wins, Santa Clara improved to 13-17 on the season and 3-6 in WCC play, while Portland dropped to 17-16 overall and 2-7 in league play.
For the series, Jon Karcich batted .545 with four runs, one home run and an RBI, while Juan Parra had four RBIs and a triple. Karcich also boasted a .818 slugging percentage and a .616 on-base percentage. Matt Long hit triple No. 4 of the season and No. 13 of his career. He now tied for third on the SCU All-Time list with Jeff Moscaret (1978-80). Nate Garcia, Thain Simon and Alex Rivers each earned wins, while Rivers and Steve Kalush registered saves.
Game 1
Santa Clara - 6
Portland - 5
Simon improved to 3-3 after earning the win in game one. He tossed 7.2 innings, gave up three runs and struck out six. The loss went to Scott Burris (4-2). He gave up four the Broncos' runs.
Both teams were held scoreless for five innings, until Santa Clara broke through with a single run in the sixth inning. Long tripled to right field and then scored on a Curtis Wagner sacrifice fly.
SCU then added four runs in the seventh inning.
Brady Fuerst started with a leadoff double to right field and then advanced to third as Andrew Biancardi walked and Kevin Madden was hit by a pitch. The bases then cleared and three runs were scored as Parra tripled to left field. Parra scored the final run of the inning on a Long sac bunt. The Broncos led 5-0.
Portland posted a run in the home half of the seventh, but Santa Clara responded with a run of its own in the eighth. Karcich scored on a Chris Morton single to left field. The shortstop got on base with a leadoff walk. SCU led 6-1.
However, the Pilots did not give up without a fight and scored two runs in the eighth and ninth innings. In the ninth inning, Riley Henricks singled to left field and Kevin Armijo walked. The bases were then loaded as Garrett Queen had a base hit. Two runs came through when Kris Kauppila singled to centerfield. Portland had runners on first and second with one out on the board, but reliever Rivers struck out two swinging to bring the game to a close.
Game 2
Santa Clara - 1
Portland - 0
Thirty minutes later, Rivers (3-1) picked up right where he left off and tossed 6.2 innings for the win. He gave up no runs and just five hits, while striking out eight Pilots. Kalush earned his third save of the season. The loss went Kyle Kraus (3-3).
The Broncos scored the lone run of the game in the fourth inning. Wagner walked to get on base and then advanced to third on a Karcich single through the right side. Wagner then scored on a Geoff Klein groundout to second.
The Broncos return to action with two midweek non-conference games at Stephen Schott Stadium. Santa Clara hosts Cal Poly on Tuesday, April 13 and then battles Stanford on Wednesday, April 15. First pitch for both games is scheduled for 6 p.m.
