April 30, 2005

Box Score

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Santa Clara University's Michael Thompson's RBI single in the 13th inning lifted the Broncos to a 3-2 West Coast Conference win over Gonzaga University Saturday afternoon in the inaugural game at SCU's new ballpark Stephen Schott Stadium.

With the win the Broncos capture the three-game series, improve to 21-22 overall and move to 6-13 in WCC play. With the loss the Bulldogs drop to 25-17 overall and 12-7 in WCC play.

Gonzaga broke the scoreless tie in the fifth inning as sophomore shortstop Aaron McGuinness hit his second home run of the season to give the Bulldogs their first run of the game.

SCU responded with two runs in their half of the inning to take a one-run lead that would hold for three innings. In the top of the ninth inning the Bulldogs were able to knot the score at one run apiece. Will Ayala got things started with his single through the right side. Then with two outs both Matt Hibbitts and Scott Campbell walked to load the bases for Darin Holcomb who then reached on a fielding error by the Bronco's second baseman which brought the tying run across to force extra innings.

After the two teams battled through three innings the Broncos then loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the 13th inning, which set the stage for Thompson's walk-off single.

Hibbitts and McGuinness were the only Bulldogs to record multiple hits on the day as Hibbitts went 2-for-3 and McGuinness went 2-for-6 with one RBI, one run scored and one home run.

Patrick Overholt (2-6) picked up the win for the Broncos allowing one run on two hits in five innings of work. Bulldog reliever Nate Williams (3-1) was saddled with the loss allowing one run on three hits in 3.1 innings of work. GU left-handed starter Patrick Donovan threw nine solid innings for the Bulldogs allowing two runs on four hits while striking out four.

The Bulldogs will close out the three-game set with the Broncos on Sunday in a 1 p.m. game at Stephen Scott Stadium.