Box Score SANTA CLARA, Calif. –
Jake Brodt hit two solo home runs but San José State set the tone early, scoring a run in each of the first three innings before putting up four runs in the fifth inning to beat Santa Clara, 9-3. The Broncos (15-15) have now lost six straight games.
The Spartans (12-19) scored a run in each of the first two innings off Broncos starter
Freddie Erlandson on four hits and added a third run against
Luke Genova to open up a three run lead after three innings of play.
Santa Clara got its first run of the game in the bottom of the fourth on a
Jake Brodt (2-for-4, 2 R, 2 HRs, 2 RBIs) solo shot to the opposite field to cut the deficit to 3-1. But the Broncos would not get any closer as San José State answered back in the top half of the fifth against Broncos' third pitcher of the evening,
Alex Waldsmith, scoring four runs, sending eight batters to the plate. Spartan Shane Timmons who was 5-for-5 on the day had a two-RBI single in the inning.
Jake Swiech started on the mound for the Spartans allowing five hits and an earned run over five innings before exiting with 54 pitches to pick up the win.
Brodt hit his second home run of the night against Spartan right-hander Josh Zanger, who replaced Swiech in the sixth. The senior slugger now has 10 home runs on the year and driven in 36 runs. Last season, when he was named All-West Coast Conference, Brodt went yard seven times with 39 RBIs.
Along with Brodt,
Grant Meylan (3-for-4) and
Jason Dicochea (2-for-4, RBI) had multi-hit games for the Broncos.
Joe Becht singled in the fifth and has now reached base safely in all 30 games this season.
Defensively, the Broncos had its first errorless game in 10 games since March 24 against Saint Mary's.
Next up for the Broncos is a weekend home series against Pepperdine in a West Coast Conference matchup. First pitch for the Friday's series opener is at 6 p.m. PT.
