May 2, 2008
LOS ANGELES - Brady Fuerst had a standout performance driving in half of the Broncos' runs as the Santa Clara baseball team's win streak was snapped by Loyola Marymount Friday afternoon. The final score of the West Coast Conference game was 9-6. With the loss, SCU is now 27-17 on the season and 7-6 in league action, while LMU improved to 22-24 overall and 6-10 in WCC play.
Fuerst went 2-for-2 with one run and three RBIs, while Gabe Alcantar scored two runs for Santa Clara. The win was awarded to the Lions' Martin Viramontes (3-4), while the save went to Mike Kenney. It was his first save of the season. The loss went to sophomore Nate Garcia (5-3). He tossed 6.1 innings and struck out four batters.
LMU started scoring in the first inning. The Lions took a 1-0 lead in the final at-bat of the inning as Ryan Wheeler singled to right field to bring home Angelo Songco. Songco, who registered a base hit, scored before the final out was made at third base.
After a 1-2-3 top of the second for Santa Clara, LMU claimed a 2-0 lead in its half of the inning. A.J. LaMonda posted an RBI single that allowed Andy Preston to advance home.
The Broncos finally got on the board in the top of the third inning. Fuerst singled to left field to get on base and then advanced to second after Matt Long grounded out. Outfielder Evan LeBlanc belted a double to left field that brought home Fuerst. The score was then 2-1. LeBlanc advanced to third on a wild pitch from LMU's Martin Viramontes but was unable to tie the score as Ryan Conan lined out to shortstop Kyle Spraker.
Between scoreless fourth and sixth inning outings for both teams, the Lions widened their lead to three runs after back-to-back solo home runs from Michael Glomb and Songco. LMU led 4-1 at the end of the fifth inning.
Yet, in the top of the seventh inning, Fuerst aided Santa Clara in cutting the lead in half as he flew out to centerfield for the sacrifice. Alcantar scored after walking to get on base and advancing to third on a Nathan Faulkner double to left centerfield. The score was now 4-2.
However, LMU responded in the bottom of the inning for four runs to take an 8-2 advantage. Jonathan Johnson got on base with a single up the middle and then advanced to scoring position as LaMonda bunted for the sacrifice. Glomb was then hit by a pitch to put two runners on. After a pitching changed for the Broncos brought Justin Kuehn in for starter Garcia, Songco singled to load the bases. Matt Koch then blasted a three-run double down the left field line that allowed all three runners to score. The fourth run was drove in by Sean Dovel, who doubled to bring Koch home before Preston struck out to end the inning.
Santa Clara once again cut the lead in half during the eighth inning. Conan singled to get on base and was followed by Alcantar and Faulkner who both walked with two outs on the board. With bases loaded, Fuerst continued his stellar performances and recorded a two-run double down the left field line that brought home Conan and Alcantar. The score was 8-4. However, the half was brought to a close before any more runs could be scored.
Despite the Lions adding on a run in their half of the eighth inning, the Broncos fought hard to knot the score in the ninth. However, Santa Clara was only able to registered two runs for a final score of 9-6.
LeBlanc was hit by a pitch in the leadoff spot and then scored on a Medica triple to right field. It was the catcher's first triple of the season. Conan's base-hit brought home Medica for the second and final run of the game. Although Jon Karcich reached on a fielder's choice, Conan was putout at second for the first out of the inning. David Abraham pinch hit for Geoff Klein and successfully advanced Karcich to second with his sacrifice bunt. The final out came as Alcantar flew out to right field.
The Broncos and Lions continue action at Page Stadium on Saturday, May 3 at 1 p.m.
