May 10, 2008

Box Score

Santa Clara, CA - The Saint Mary's Gaels (23-24-1/5-11 WCC) continue their struggles when playing under the lights, falling to 1-6 after sundown, as they drop the opening game of the series to Santa Clara (30-18/10-6 WCC) by a final score of 12-6 on Friday night.

On the mound for the Gaels was Brian Justice (4-4), who got through the first inning and two thirds easily enough, before a crushing error extended the bottom of the second, and the Santa Clara bats made the Gaels pay, adding five un-earned runs, to make the score 7-0. On the evening Justice went four complete, giving up 10 hits, 10 runs, four earned, with four walks and no strike outs. Errors were the story of the evening for the Gaels as they committed five on the evening.

Offensively the Gaels did manage to get their hits, as they put up six runs, off 13 hits. Their biggest nemesis on the evening aside from the errors was the number of runners they left on base. On the evening the Gaels left 11 runners on, and twice they left the bases loaded, specifically in the top of the eighth with the Gaels down four.

On the mound for the Broncos was Nate Garcia (6-3) who didn't have his best stuff tonight, but was good enough to earn his sixth win of the season. On the evening Garcia went seven complete, scattering 10 hits, surrendering five runs, all earned, walking four and striking out eight.

At the plate the Gaels saw big nights from Ryan Mulligan who continues to be a real asset out of the two spot, going 2-for-5, and setting up RBI situations for the batters that followed.

Kyle Jensen continues to hit at a pace few Gaels ever have, as he went 3-for-5 tonight with two singles and a double, while scoring a run and knocking in a run. Jensen's double was his 13th of the season, he also stole his ninth bag of the year, which is equally impressive because it came off Santa Clara's All-American catcher who came into the game throwing out over 60% of the base runners who attempt to steal.

Justin Fazio continues to have an extremely strong second half to his freshman campaign, as he collected another multi-hit night, going 3-for-5 and scored a run. Randy Wells rounds out the list of players who had multi-hit nights as the sophomore second baseman also went 3-for-5 with a run scored and three knocked in.

Also collecting hits for the Gaels tonight was Cory Miller who went 1-for-5 with a single. And Daniel Alcaire who went 1-for-4.

Senior Kenny Fuglerud only had two official at-bats tonight as he collected three walks, unfortunately he didn't get a hit and so his seven game hit streak came to an end. Fuglerud did manage to score a run however.

Out of the pen for the Gaels tonight was Justin Kuks who pitched beautifully, going four complete, giving up only two hits, two runs, both earned, with two walks and two strike outs.

The two teams will resume the series tomorrow night at 6:00 PM at Schott Field. On the mound for the Gaels will be Brandon Berl.