Bronco Briefs
By Brian Betz
Baseball
Lost Both Games of Season-Opening Doubleheader to No. 3 Stanford
The Santa Clara baseball team dropped both matches of this past weekend's home-and-home doubleheader against the highly-ranked Cardinals by scores of 7-2 and 5-0. Senior pitcher Joe Diefenderfer took the loss after allowing four runs on nine hits in 3 2/3 innings of work. Anthony Rea came in with some effective pitching out of the bullpen, allowing only one hit over 3 1/3 innings. The Broncos' bats, however, could not put together much of a rally against the Cardinals, who allowed just six hits on the afternoon. Senior catcher Jim Wallace went 2-for-3, while scoring one of Santa Clara's two runs.
Sunday, the Broncos traveled to Stanford, where they experienced much of the same result they saw at home. This time, however, Santa Clara was simply outpitched, as the Cardinal staff allowed just one hit on the day, an Eric Newton single in the ninth. Santa Clara senior hurler Matt Travis pitched well, allowing just three runs on five hits over six innings, but a second-inning homerun set the tone for Stanford. That gave them a lead that they never looked back from. The Broncos will look to record their first win of the year this upcoming weekend when they travel to University of Hawaii-Hilo for a four-game series against the Vulcans.
Men's Basketball
Santa Clara 66, Saint Mary's 63
In arguably the most exciting game so far this season, the men's team led by as many as 18 points before watching it dwindle to a one-point margin in the last minute of Saturday night's contest. But clutch free throws in the closing moments, coupled with a missed Gaels' three-pointer in the last five seconds, sealed the victory and snapped a three-game losing streak for the Broncos.
Sophomore guard Bakari Altheimer and junior guard J.R. Patrick each finished with 12, while freshman guard Brandon Rohe added 11 and junior center Jim Howell pulled down nine rebounds.
Santa Clara improves to 11-7 on the year, 2-3 in West Coast Conference play. Up next for the squad is a weekend trip to the Pacific Northwest to play Portland on Thursday and Gonzaga on Saturday.
Women's Basketball
Santa Clara 82, Saint Mary's 72
Six players scored in double-figures, led by sophomore guard Quinn Thomas' 19, as the Broncos rolled to the victory over the Gaels this past Friday.
For the third time this season, Thomas hit five three-pointers while adding ten rebounds, five assists and two steals in the contest.
The Broncos forced 12 second-half turnovers, while hitting 7 free throws down the stretch. Junior forward Jennie Rondel and senior forward Kendra Rhea scored 12 and 11 points, respectively, as the women continued to impress in conference action.
Santa Clara 57, San Francisco 41
The women showed no signs of slowing down Saturday night, as the team improved to 13-5 (4-1 in conference play) with a win over the Dons. Rhea led the team on both ends of the floor, with her game-high 13 points and held the Dons' leading scorer, Carey Sauer, to 2-15 shooting from the field. As a team, USF shot 41 percent from the field without attempting a free throw in the first half. Senior forward Tammy Annas matched Rhea with her 13 points and sophomore guard Kayla Huss added 11 in the victory. The team returns home this weekend to face Portland on Thursday and Gonzaga on Saturday.
Men's Tennis
6-1 loss to Arizona
The men dropped to 1-1 in this early season, as the Broncos lost to a tough Wildcats squad in Tucson this past Saturday. The Broncos lost every singles match, but won No.1 and No.3 doubles matches 8-6 and 8-4, respectively.
Sunday saw much of the same, as Santa Clara dropped its match against Arizona State by a 6-1 margin as well. Sophomore Taylor Bedilion was successful in both of his matches for the Broncos, winning 6-4, 4-6 and 7-5 at No.4 singles, while teaming with senior Federico Mattioli to win at No.3 doubles, 8-2. The squad is now 1-2 on the season.