Diamond Struggles Continue

By Ryan Mahoney

The Santa Clara baseball team couldn't get in the win column in West Coast Conference play, losing three games over the weekend to Gonzaga University.

"The weekend was bittersweet," said Head Coach Dan O'Brien. "It was a celebration for our seniors on Sunday, but we continue to play poor baseball and beat ourselves. That responsibility falls on the coaching staff. We simply are not doing a good job."

Friday's game proved to be the closest of the weekend, but the Broncos fell to Gonzaga in 10 innings, 6-4. The Broncos clung to a late 4-1 lead as the eighth inning began, but with a man on, Justin Gisch dropped a fly ball that brought the tying run to the plate. Gonzaga's Cory LeBrun hit an RBI double, closing the gap to 4-2.

Chris Mendoza then came in to pitch for the Broncos and surrendered two runs to force extra innings. In the top of the 10th, Gonzaga led off with a double and capitalized with a series of sacrifices and fielding errors that allowed them to notch two more runs. The Broncos went down quietly in the bottom of the 10th.

Saturday's contest was lopsided, as Mike Couch picked up the loss in a game that was doomed by a five- run fifth inning. Gonzaga clinched the WCC regular season title with the win.

On Sunday, the Broncos honored their senior class before the game.

"I'm going to miss these seniors," said O'Brien. "Things have not gone as planned, but these guys are handling a brutal season better than most would. They're handling it with a lot of maturity."

Their pregame celebrations were quickly subdued, however, as junior Powell Fansler picked up the loss in a 9-3 final. Casey Munoz, who had a good weekend overall, highlighted the Bronco offense as usual, going two-for-four with a run scored. Gonzaga scored two runs in the top of the first and scored four more in the top of the second to run away early.

The weekend brought the Broncos' conference record to 0-21, while their overall record sits at 10-35.

Only a three-game series against Loyola Marymount University is left on the WCC schedule for Santa Clara, who will finish the season with the worst conference record since the team began play in 1960. Santa Clara also finished last in the conference a year ago with a 5-19 record.

Perhaps coming at the right time for the Broncos is a long trip to Ohio to take on the University of Cincinnati Bearcats (4-17, 19-29).

"We're looking forward to the trip," said O'Brien. "It'll be good to get away and travel to a new part of the country."

Contact Ryan Mahoney at rmahoney@scu.edu or call (408) 554-4852.