Box Score SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Santa Clara baseball took a 2-0 lead into the eighth inning of Saturday night's contest against San Francisco, and surrendered five runs to the Dons in a 5-2 loss at Schott Stadium. USF scored four times in the top of the ninth to even the West Coast Conference opening series at one game apiece.
Only one of the seven runs was the result of a hit that landed on the outfield grass.
Facing a 2-1 deficit with a runner on third and one out in the ninth, San Francisco tied the game on an RBI squeeze bunt by Ryan Matranga, whose base hit landed roughly three feet into fair territory. The next batter, Blake Valley, laid down a bunt up the first base line that Santa Clara pitcher Max Kuhns (L, 0-2) fielded and threw over the head of first baseman Jake Brodt — Matranga scored the go-ahead run on the error. The Dons (6-15, 1-1 WCC) plated two more runs on a fielder's choice and a second error.
The Broncos (8-9, 1-1) opened the scoring on Austin Reyes' RBI squeeze bunt in the sixth; TC Florentine scored from third and Don first baseman Ross Puskarich sailed his throw over the head of the catcher Matranga with Kert Woods heading home. Florentine went a perfect 4-for-4 with three doubles Saturday and is 7-for-8 with five doubles, a triple and two runs scored through two games of the series
Santa Clara's Steven Wilson pitched 7.1 innings and allowed an earned run on six hits with two walks and three strikeouts. Mack Meyer (W, 1-1) earned the victory in relief and Frank Waliczek (SV, 2) struck out two batters in a scoreless ninth to pick up the save.
The Dons began a comeback bid in the eighth by scoring their first run of the series on an RBI double from Allen Smoot that cut Santa Clara's lead to 2-1. With one out and two runners in scoring position, Puskarich hit a ground ball that took one high bounce to shortstop
John Cresto, who threw to first for the second out. San Francisco's Matt Sinatro broke for home plate on Cresto's throw, and Bronco first baseman
Jake Brodt threw home to
Stevie Berman to retire Sinatro and end the inning.
The Broncos and Dons meet for the series finale Sunday at 1 p.m. Santa Clara's Jason Seever (2-0, 2.04 ERA) will take the hill against San Francisco's James Kannenberg (1-1, 4.22 ERA).
GAME NOTES: First pitch was at 6:03 p.m. … time of the game was 2:59 … attendance was 267.
