April 20, 2008

Final Stats

(Santa Clara, CA) - San Francisco staked itself to a 3-0 lead in the first, but couldn't hold on as it fell to Bay Area and West Coast Conference rival Santa Clara 7-6 at Stephen Schott Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The Broncos (21-15, 7-5 WCC) out hit the Dons (22-17, 6-6 WCC) 15-8 in the contest.

USF started the game on a promising note, scoring three in the first inning off Broncos sophomore right-handed start Alex Rivers. Senior second baseman Joey Railey reached base on an error by sophomore shortstop Jon Karcich, and moved to second on freshman left fielder Connor Bernatz's sacrifice bunt. Senior right fielder Kyle Morgan singled through the right side to plate Railey. Senior first baseman Mitchell Bialosky hit his 10th double of the season, a shot to right field that moved Morgan to third. After Morgan was tagged out trying to score on sophomore Ryan Lipkin's grounder to third, Bialosky moved on to third. Sophomore center fielder Bobby Ethel singled home Bialosky, and Lipkin scored on sophomore third baseman Derek Poppert's double to left.

A promising inning turned sour however as the Broncos put up three of their own in the bottom of the frame, and the Dons tied it at four in the fourth.

Senior shortstop Tavo Hall reached on an infield single and moved to second on Railey's walk. Hall, who had seen about six throws to first base by Rivers before Railey walked, promptly stole third an out later. Morgan then sacrificed to center, plating Hall.

SCU regained the lead with one run in each of the fourth and fifth innings, making it 6-4 before the Dons brought it to within one in the sixth.

With one out, Hall was hit by a pitch and advanced to third on Railey's single through the right side. Hall scored for the second time on a sacrifice fly, this time by Bernatz.

Santa Clara added an insurance run, making it 7-5 in the eighth, but the Dons rallied in the ninth. Railey singled through the left side to start the frame. Two outs later, Bialosky singled through the right side, scoring Railey. But, Lipkin flew out to right field to end the threat and the game.

Freshman lefty Matt Lujan (4-2) took the loss, allowing five runs (four earned) off eight hits, one walk, and struck out one batter in 3.2 innings. Freshman left-hander Garrett Luippold (0.2 innings) and senior right-hander Brian Anderson (2.2 innings) each allowed a run off three and two hits respectively. Bialosky did not allow a run off two hits in the eighth.

Bialosky went 2-for-5 with a double, an RBI and a run scored. Railey was 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Poppert doubled in a run, while Morgan singled in two and Ethel singled in one. Hall singled and scored twice.

Rivers (2-2) earned the win for Santa Clara, allowing five earned runs off six hits, three walks, and struck out seven Dons in 5.1 innings. Junior right fielder led the Broncos at the plate, going 4-for-5 with a doubled, two RBI and two runs scored.

USF has a busy week ahead with two mid-week games and a weekend set at home. The Dons host Sacramento State at Benedetti Diamond on Tuesday at 2:00 PM, before heading to Fresno State for a 6:00 PM game on Wednesday. Then USF returns home for a weekend WCC set with Portland. Friday's game is set for 3:00 PM, with Saturday's and Sunday's games beginning at 1:00 PM.