May 17, 2009
MALIBU, Calif. - The Santa Clara baseball team ended the 2009 West Coast Conference season with a 3-2 loss at Pepperdine Sunday afternoon. It was another intensely hard-fought battle for the Broncos who finish with a 6-15 league record. The Waves finish 12-9 in WCC action.
Pepperdine (31-22) out-hit Santa Clara (19-33), 8-3, while both teams committed an error a piece.
The win went to RHP Nick Gaudi (5-3). He tossed four innings of relief, striking out six and allowing just one hit. The loss went to freshman RHP J.R. Graham (0-3). He tossed three relief innings for junior starter RHP Steve Kalush. Graham surrendered the game-winning run. Kalush went seven innings and struck out four.
At the plate, junior shortstop Jon Karcich scored one run with one hit and posted two RBIs. Senior centerfielder Matt Long and freshman DH Andrew Biancardi each had a hit for the Broncos, while senior rightfielder Kevin Madden plated SCU's other run.
Karcich got things started for the Broncos in the top of the fourth inning. After striking out, Madden reached base due to a wild pitch. He was then driven home by Karcich, who launched a two-run home run over the left field wall. It was his second homer of the season and SCU led 2-0.
Santa Clara held onto its 2-0 lead until the sixth inning when Pepperdine came up with a couple of home runs of its own. Ryan Heroy ended the shutout bid when he sent the second pitch of the inning over the left field wall. The Waves trailed 2-1.
The score was then evened in the bottom of the eighth inning with another Waves solo homer Nate Simon's shot bounced off the scoreboard in right field. The score was tied 2-2.
The Broncos had an opportunity to win the game in regulation. In the top of the ninth, Curtis Wagner walked and Biancardi singled to left field. Juan Parra came in to run for Biancardi and then advanced to second on a passed ball. With no outs on the board and two runners in scoring position, Waves reliever Gaudi struck out the next to batters and got the third to ground out to keep the score tied.
The Waves also had an opportunity in the ninth to get the win. With a runner on third base with two outs, the Broncos got the final out of the inning on a ground out. After a quick inning and a half, Colin Rooney brought the game to a close with a leadoff solo home run to left field. Pepperdine won, 3-2.
The Broncos bring the 2009 regular season to a close on Monday, May 18 against the Mustangs of Cal Poly. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. from Baggett Stadium in San Luis Obispo.
