April 26, 2008
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Junior outfielder Matt Long scored four runs while hitting for the cycle Saturday night to lift the Santa Clara baseball team to a 10-3 victory over Hawaii-Hilo. With the win, the Broncos improved to 24-16 overall, while the Vulcans dropped to 13-25 on the season.
Long was the first Bronco this season to hit for the cycle. He started off with a single in the first inning and then registered a home run in the second inning. In the fourth inning, Long sent a triple down the right field line and then doubled in the seventh.
Evan LeBlanc and Brady Fuerst also had solid offensive outings for Santa Clara. Both went 3-for-4, scoring two runs each while LeBlanc drove in three runs.
Santa Clara got on the scoreboard with one run in the first inning and then added four more in the second inning. In his first at-bat of the contest, Ryan Conan drove in the first run of the game as Long scored on Conan's groundout. SCU led 1-0.
The Broncos rallied in the second inning, after a quick top of the inning, to increase their lead to 5-0. Fuerst singled up the middle to bring home designated hitter Geoff Klein. Klein got on base with a leadoff walk. Outfielder Long then registered his seventh home run of the season as he launched one over the right field wall. The homer also brought home Fuerst. Santa Clara led 4-0. LeBlanc tallied the fourth run of the inning. He got on base with a single up the middle that initially bounced off the rubber on the pitcher's mound and landed in center field. LeBlanc then scored on a Conan base-hit.
After an up and down third inning, Long started off the Broncos half of the fourth inning with his fourth triple of the season. He then scored on a sacrifice fly from Medica. SCU climbed to a 7-0 lead as LeBlanc scored his second run of the game on a Conan RBI double to left field.
Santa Clara continued to hold UHH scoreless and went on to increase its lead to 8-0 in the bottom of the fifth as Jon Karcich scored on LeBlanc bases loaded fly out. Karcich got on base with a single up the middle and advanced around the bases as Fuerst singled and Long walked.
However, the Broncos could not keep the Vulcans from getting on the scoreboard in the three runs in the top sixth inning. The first run of the series for UHH came as bases were loaded after back-to-back batters were walked. Michael Higa scored when Matt Haasenritter was walked.
With two outs on the board and bases remaining loaded, Donald Brandt took over the pitching duties for starter Simon. In his first batter faced, Shane Kessel doubled down the left field line allowing Peter Rodgers and AJ Satele to score. Brandt then struck out Thomas Brown to end the inning. The score was 8-3 going into the bottom of the sixth.
Santa Clara rebounded in the bottom of the seventh inning to make it a seven-run game. Fuerst notched a bunt single to get on base and was followed by Long, who doubled to right field for the cycle. LeBlanc then recorded a two RBI single up the middle to give the Broncos the, 10-3, win.
The Broncos and Vulcans bring the three-game weekend series to a close on Sunday, April 27. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Stephen Schott Stadium.
