April 11, 2012
Box Score
SANTA CLARA, CALIF. -
California gave up four runs in the bottom of the first inning and never quite recovered, losing 8-5 Wednesday (April 11) night at Santa Clara. The Golden Bears had gotten within 6-5 on junior first baseman Mitch Delfino's two-out RBI single in the seventh inning, but the Broncos' Matt Ozanne had a two-out two-run single in the bottom of the eighth off of Cal reliever Michael Lowden for the final 8-5 margin. The Bears dropped to 17-14 overall and Santa Clara improved to 18-12.
The Broncos had tallied four runs off of Cal junior right-hander Logan Scott (3.0 innings, seven hits, four runs) in the first inning before Scott and freshman left-hander Chris Muse-Fisher (1-1, 2.1 innings, two runs, no earned runs, two walks) were able to keep Santa Clara scoreless for the next three innings.
The Bears mounted a comeback with three runs in the fourth inning when junior second baseman Tony Renda led-off with a home run to left field. Sophomore right fielder Andrew Knapp later forced a one-out walk and scored on senior center fielder Chad Bunting's RBI double down the left field line. Bunting advanced to third base on Bronco second baseman Greg Harisis' throwing error and scored on junior left fielder Darrel Matthews' sacrifice fly to left field.
Cal tied the game, 4-4, with a run in the fifth inning when junior designated hitter Vince Bruno had a one-out walk and stole second base. Then with two outs, Santa Clara elected to walk Renda before Delfino knocked in Bruno with an RBI single through the middle of the infield.
The Broncos responded with an unearned run in both the bottom of the fifth inning and the bottom of the sixth inning off of Muse-Fisher to retake the lead, 6-4. Delfino's second RBI single, this time to right field, got the Bears to 6-5, but Cal could not score in the top of the eighth inning and gave up the two-run single to Ozanne in the bottom of the eighth.
With two outs in the top of the ninth inning, senior catcher Chadd Krist hit his 56th career double (putting him alone in second place on the school's career doubles list), but Renda lined-out to third base for the second time in the game for the final out.
The Bears return to Pac-12 play this Friday through Sunday, April 13-15 versus Washington at Evans Diamond. Game times are 2:30 p.m. Friday and 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. KNEW 960 AM, part of the IMG Sports Network, will be broadcasting the Saturday and Sunday Washington-Cal games.
