Box Score
SANTA CLARA, Calif.—The Gonzaga University baseball squad played the middle game in a three-game set at Santa Clara Saturday, losing to the Broncos 5-2 at Stephen Schott Stadium in Santa Clara.
The Broncos got on the board first, scoring a run in the second inning on two hits. TJ Braff hit a one-out triple to center field, and he came around in the next at bat, scoring on an RBI single from Jake Brodt, who was then thrown out by GU catcher Joey Harris trying to advance to second.
The Zags responded immediately, and Harris played a key role in the frame. The first three batters - Sam Brown, Taylor Jones, and Justin Jacobs - each singled to load the bases, and Harris took advantage of the opportunity with a two-out single to right field. Both Brown and Jones scored on the frame, giving Harris his ninth and 10th RBIs of the season.
Gonzaga held the lead for an inning and a half until the Broncos scored two in the bottom of the fourth. Braff hit an RBI groundout for the Broncos' first run. Brodt again followed up with an RBI single, bringing in Santa Clara's second run of the frame and giving the home squad a 3-2 lead. The base hit chased GU starter Hunter Wells from the game.
The Broncos added on a run in both the fifth and seventh innings, taking the score to 5-2. The Zags did see other opportunities to score by getting the first two runners on in the sixth inning, but Santa Clara reliever Max Kuhns worked out of the jam. In the ninth, Brown and Jones both reached base with two outs to bring the tying run to the plate in Jacobs. The Bulldog right fielder fouled out to first base to end the game.
Bulldog Bites
- With Harris joining the 10-RBI club due to his two runs batted in tonight, nine different Bulldogs have multiple RBIs on the year. The catcher is also the 13th different GU player to have a multi-RBI game this season. He equaled his career high with the two RBIs, accomplishing the feat for the third time in his three years on the team.
- Both Jones and Brown tallied three hits apiece Saturday night as Jones with 3-for-5 with a run and Brown 3-for-4 with two singles, a double, and a run. Jones has four games of three or more hits on the year and Brown's posted three hits in five different games.
- The Zags now have 20 games of 10 or more hits on the year, collecting 13 base knocks for the second straight game. They've also reached double-digit hits in three of the last four games.
Mac Talk - Thoughts from GU head coach Mark Machtolf
"We didn't get the big hit tonight and didn't make the big pitches when we needed to. Give credit to Santa Clara; they did."
Next Up
Gonzaga (20-20, 10-10 WCC) will close out the three-game set at Santa Clara with a getaway date with the Broncos at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 26. RHP Brandon Bailey is slated to start for the Bulldogs while Santa Clara will turn to LHP Evan Brisentine. That contest will again take place at Stephen Schott Stadium.
