May 15, 2009
MALIBU, Calif. - The Santa Clara baseball team faced a hard-fought 12-5 loss at Pepperdine Friday afternoon in West Coast Conference action. With the loss, the Broncos dropped to 19-31 overall and 6-13 in WCC play, while the Waves improved to 29-22 on the season and 10-9 in league action.
Senior Brady Fuerst tied the game-high three RBIs, while Kevin Madden scored two of SCU's five runs. Colin Rooney led the game with three runs and three RBIs off of four hits.
On the mound, the win went to Matt Bywater (6-1). He went eight innings and gave up four of Santa Clara's runs. He struck out nine Broncos. The loss went to junior RHP Nate Garcia (7-5). He tossed 5.1 innings, surrendering 11 runs on 11 hits. He struck out three Waves.
Santa Clara took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on a Pepperdine error. Leadoff batter Geoff Klein scored the run after singling to left field. However, Pepperdine posted three runs in the home half to take the advantage.
The Broncos cut the deficit in half with a single run in the third inning. Madden scored his first run of the game after reaching on an error by right fielder Bryce Mendonca, which put the senior on second base. He then advanced on a Jon Karcich fly out to centerfield. Madden scored on a Fuerst infield single. The Broncos successfully retired the side to keep it a one-run game.
Yet, in the fourth inning the Waves tallied another three runs to make it a 6-2 game. The Broncos rallied in the fifth inning for two runs to make the score 6-4. Matt Long singled down the right field line and advanced to third on Karcich's 21st double of the year. Long and Karcich were both driven home by Fuerst's singled through the left side.
That was the closest SCU would get as Pepperdine added another three runs in the fifth, two runs in the sixth inning and their 12th run of the game in the eighth inning. SCU did add on one more run in the ninth inning. With two outs on the board, Klein registered his 21st double of the year as well that plated Madden. Fuerst then flied out to right field to bring a game to a close.
The Broncos and Waves continue the series on Saturday, May 16 at 1 p.m. from Eddy D. Field Stadium in Malibu. The series comes to a close on Sunday, May 17 at 1 p.m.
