April 30, 2009
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Santa Clara baseball hosts non-conference opponent San Diego State in its final home weekend series of the 2009 season. The Broncos and Aztecs open play on Friday, May 1 at 6 p.m. at Stephen Schott Stadium. The series continues with a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday, May 2 and concludes on Sunday, May 3 at 1 p.m.
Follow The Broncos Online!
All four games this weekend will feature live audio/video via Bronco All-Access at www.SantaClaraBroncos.com. Chetan Chaudhari and Michael Thomas will call the play-by-play on Friday, while Stephen Hobbs will be on the mic on Saturday and Sunday. Live in-game stats will also be offered via GameTracker.
80s Music Night and Costume Contest
Santa Clara baseball will host a 80s music night this Friday against San Diego State. A fan costume and dance contest will be held during 7th Inning Stretch. Winners will get coupons for free pizzas from Tony and Alba's Pizzeria.
Battle on the Mound
Friday • Nate Garcia (3.23 ERA, 6-3, 78 K) vs. Stephen Strasburg (1.54 ERA, 9-0, 135 K)
Saturday Gm 1 • Thain Simon (5.73 ERA, 3-4, 43 K) vs. Jon Berger (5.12 ERA, 3-4, 51 K)
Saturday Gm 2 • TBA vs. Tyler Lavigne (3.86 ERA, 4-1, 50 K)
Sunday • TBA vs. TBA
Come Out and Celebrate Our Bronco Seniors
Santa Clara fans, this Saturday prior to the first game of the doubleheader, the Santa Clara baseball team will honor its eight graduating seniors. Come out and help us send off David Abraham, Thomas Dore, Jr., Brady Fuerst, James Heintz, Matt Long, Kevin Madden, Juan Parra and Kyle Van Dusen in style!
Last Time Out
SCU was edged 7-6 in 10 innings Wednesday night at San Jose State. The Broncos owned an early 5-0 lead, but the Spartans rallied to knot the score in the fifth inning. The two teams remained tied through the eighth inning. SCU scored a run in the ninth, but could not hold off SJSU from responded in the bottom half. The Spartans took the game in the 10th inning. Freshman DH Andrew Biancardi hit his first collegiate triple and had a season-high three RBIs, while sophomore infielder Curtis Wagner registered his first career stolen base. Long homered for the fourth time of the year.
Bronco Watch
Santa Clara enters the weekend with a 15-25 overall record. Geoff Klein continues to lead the team batting .395, with 62 hits, five home runs and 45 RBIs. He also owns a .605 slugging percentage. Jon Karcich owns a team-high 19 doubles, while Long has scored a team-best 31 runs thus far. He also has five triples on the season.
Scouting San Diego State
The Aztecs enter the weekend with a 28-17 overall record and are 11-4 on the road. San Diego State is receiving votes in two polls, while being ranked 24th by Rivals.com. Cory Vaughn leads the team with 40 runs, three triples, 10 home runs and 43 RBIs. The Aztecs have won two of their last five games, and will look to snap a two game slide this Friday.
Last Time vs. San Diego State
Santa Clara and San Diego State last met on March 7, 2008 in the Aztec Invitational at Tony Gwynn Stadium. The Broncos rallied to a 10-6 victory over the Aztecs. Klein had a game-high three RBIs, while Fuerst has two RBIs and a run. Friday's night game at Schott Stadium will be a rematch of the starting hurlers as Garcia tossed the first 4.2 innings for SCU and Stephen Strasburg received the loss after 5.1 innings. Garcia had seven strikeouts, Strasburg posted nine.
All-Time vs. San Diego State
Friday's game marks the 22nd meeting of the two teams in a series Santa Clara leads 12-9.
On Deck
SCU continues non-conference play with the series finale against Stanford on Wednesday, May 6. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Stephen Schott Stadium. The Broncos then return to West Coast Conference action with a weekend series at the Gaels of Saint Mary's.
In the WCC
Through all-games, the Broncos are second in doubles and fifth in batting average and triples. Individually, Klein is tied for first in batting average, Garcia is first in innings pitched and complete games, and second in strikeouts, Karcich is second in doubles and Long is third in triples. Klein is also third in RBIs. See page 6 of the notes for the complete list.
On the National Stage
As a team, Santa Clara is ranked in the top 100 in doubles (No. 27), doubles per game (No. 13), strikeouts per nine innings (No. 40), and walks per nine innings (No. 56). Individually, the Broncos have nine different players ranked in 23 categories. The highest rankings belong to Karcich (No. 11 - doubles per game and No. 12 - doubles), Long (No. 17 - triples) and Garcia (No. 18 - strikeouts). See page 6 pf the notes for the complete list.
Going...Going...Gone!
Klein and Long improved the Broncos home run tally to 18 over the last week. Klein hit is team-leading fifth homer of the year against Gonzaga on Sunday, while Long had a solo shot against San Jose State Wednesday night. It was his fourth of the season.
Long Enters Ninth Career Record Book List
With his double against Gonzaga last weekend and his solo home run at San Jose State Wednesday night, senior Long entered his ninth career record book list. He is now tied for 10th all-time with 68 extra base hits.
SCU Record Books Watch List
> Long is now tied for No. 4 all-time in triples (13)
> Long is now No. 4 all-time in at bats (820)
> Long is now No. 4 all-time in hits (254)
> Long is now No. 6 all-time in runs (148)
> Long is now No. 6 all-time in total bases (371)
> Long is tied for 8th in single-season triples (5)
> Long is now No. 9 all-time in walks (95)
> Long is tied for 10th in single-season sac flies (5)
> Long is now tied for No. 10 in all-time extra base hits (68)
> Karcich is now tied for No. 7 in hit by pitch (24)
> Garcia is now No. 10 all-time in career strikeouts (227).
> Long 7 home runs away from entering the all-time list.
> Karcich is 1 double away from entering both the all-time and single-season lists.
> Karcich is 8 home runs away from entering the all-time list.
> Fuerst is 8 doubles away from entering the all-time list.
> Fuerst is 3 doubles away from entering the single-season list.
> Klein is 3 doubles away from entering the single-season list.
> Garcia is 6 starts away from entering the all-time list.
> Kalush is 1 save away from entering the all-time list.
