April 25, 2009
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - After a four hour slugfest, Gonzaga took the West Coast Conference series from Santa Clara, 12-10, in 11 innings Saturday night at Stephen Schott Stadium. The two teams combined for 22 hits and 38 hits. With the loss, the Broncos dropped 15-23 on the season and 4-10 in league play. The Bulldogs improved to 27-12 overall and 9-5 in WCC action.
Sophomore Curtis Wagner was 3-for-5 with two runs and two RBIs, while senior Matt Long tied the game-high three runs. Jon Karcich hit three doubles to increase his total to 18 on the season, while Kyle Van Dusen hit his first collegiate home run. The win went to Cody Martin (4-4). He tossed four innings of relief giving up just one run. The loss went to Jason Westerberg (1-2). He went two innings and gave up the Bulldogs' three final runs.
Gonzaga took a 3-1 lead in the second inning and then climbed to a 6-2 advantage by the fifth inning. Then in the bottom of the fifth, Santa Clara scored three runs to make it a one-run game. Long hit a leadoff single and then advanced as Kevin Madden was hit by a pitch. With a Geoff Klein single, the Broncos plated Long and then with walk dealt to Andrew Biancardi, Klein scored. The final run of the inning was registered by Brady Fuerst on a wild pitch.
Although the Broncos continued to trail, SCU knotted the score and took a one-run lead in the eighth inning. Long, Madden and Karcich all singled to get on base, while Karcich drove in Long for the first run of the inning. Wagner then drove in the final two runs of the inning with a base hit to center field. Madden and Karcich scored on the hit.
However, Gonzaga responded with a home run from Mark Castellitto in the ninth inning to knot the game, 9-9, and send it into extra innings.
After a scoreless 10th inning, the Bulldogs jumped ahead in the 11th with three runs. The Broncos were only able to respond with a solo home run from Van Dusen in the home half to end the game.
The Broncos and Bulldogs conclude the series on Sunday, April 26 at 1 p.m.
