April 12, 2008
SPOKANE, Wash. - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Saturday, April 12, 2008 Contact: Sabrina Polidoro, Santa Clara Media Relations, 408/554-4659
Zags Slip Past Broncos, 5-4
SPOKANE, Wash. - The Santa Clara baseball team was edged by Gonzaga, 5-4, in West Coast Conference action Saturday afternoon in Spokane. The series is now tied one game a piece and the two teams will battle in the rubber game on Sunday, April 13 at 1 p.m. The Broncos are even in league play with a 4-4 mark and are 18-13 on the season, while the Bulldogs improved to 18-15 on the season and 2-5 in WCC action.
The loss was handed to starting pitcher Alex Rivers (1-2). He tossed seven innings for the Broncos. The win went to the Bulldogs' Fields and the save was awarded to Martin, who held off the Broncos for 2.1 innings.
Offensively, Jon Karcich was 3-for-3, scoring one run and doubling twice. Matt Long went 2-for-4, scoring two of Santa Clara's four runs, while Brady Fuerst drove in one run and score one run for SCU.
The Broncos opened up the contest scoring one run in their half of the first inning and then successfully held off the Bulldogs until the fifth inning. Long scored his first run of the afternoon on a Gabe Alcantar single to center field. SCU led 1-0.
Both teams were held scoreless for the next four innings. The Broncos had an opportunity in the fourth inning to take a two-run lead, but were unable to capitalize. Geoff Klein, who got on base with a single to right center field, advanced to third on a Karcich double but was then caught in a double play for the final two outs of the inning.
The Bulldogs then produced four of their five runs in their half of the fifth inning. Ryan Wiegand registered a two-RBI double to left field to advance Jason Chatwood and Evan Wells to home. Gonzaga led 2-1. In the next at-bat, Tyson Van Winkle singled to center field allowing Wiegand and Marcus McKimmy to score. The Zags held a 4-1 lead.
Gonzaga then registered its final run of the game in the sixth inning as Bryan Winston scored in the middle of the half. Winston posted a leadoff base-hit to left field to get on base.
Santa Clara then responded with three runs in the top of the seventh inning. Fuerst drove in one run wit his base-hit through the left side, allowing Karcich to score. Karcich got on base with a double down the left field line. Fuerst then scored on a sacrifice fly by Evan LeBlanc. The score was 5-3.
The Broncos finished their scoring for the afternoon with a Tommy Medica single to right field that brought home Long. Santa Clara had two chances to knot the score in the eighth and ninth innings but was unable to do so.
