May 2, 2008

Box Score

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - LMU (22-24, 6-10) collected nine runs on 16 hits en route to defeating Santa Clara (27-17, 7-6) by a score of 9-6 in West Coast Conference play on Friday. The victory snapped the Broncos' season-long six-game winning streak.

Sophomore Angelo Songco and freshman Jonathan Johnson paced the Lion offense, finishing with three hits apiece. Songco batted 3-for-5 with a home run, three runs scored and a RBI. The home run served as the back end of back-to-back home runs in the fifth inning. Senior Michael Glomb, who extended his hitting streak to 16 games, collected the first home run in the inning, finishing the game 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI. Johnson went 3-for-4 with two runs scored in the victory. Freshman Matt Koch contributed a 2-for-4 day with three RBI, a double and a run scored en route to extending his hitting streak to nine games.

Freshman Martin Viramontes tossed six innings as the Lion starter, surrendering only two hits over the span and allowing two runs while striking out three batters to earn the victory. Chris Eusebio was first out of the Lion bullpen, contributing an inning and two-thirds, surrendering two runs on three hits and two walks before giving way to Lee Roberts. The junior right-hander dealt a third of an inning and gave up two runs on three hits. Junior Mike Kenney finished the game on the hill for the LMU, recording the three outs in the two-run Santa Clara ninth to earn his first save of the year.

Ryan Conan and Brady Fuerst collected two hits in the loss for Santa Clara. Fuerst led the offensive charge for the Broncos, collecting a double and three RBI on the afternoon. Nate Garcia got the start for Santa Clara, lasting six and a third innings and allowing six runs on 10 hits and striking out four batters before being tagged with his third loss of the season. Justin Kuehn dealt one inning of relief, giving up three runs (two earned) on five hits before Daniel DeMarco recorded the final two outs in the eighth.

LMU got on the board first in the first inning, plating a single run on a two-out single by Ryan Wheeler. A two-out single by Songco got the ball rolling in the frame, moving to second on a single by Koch. After falling behind 1-2 in the count, Wheeler laced a single to right field to drive in Songco. Koch attempted to take third on the throw, but was thrown out just moments after Songco crossed for the first tally of the game.

The Lions extended the lead to 2-0 after posting another two-out run in the second. Andy Preston reached with a one-out single before a strikeout resulted in the second out of the frame. After a wild pitch and a Johnson single to shallow left field put runners at the corners, A.J. LaMonda came up with the clutch RBI-single through the right side of the infield.

Santa Clara answered back for its first run of the game in the top of the third, cutting the LMU advantage to 2-1. Fuerst singled with one out before moving to second on a groundout to the right side of the infield. Evan LeBlanc followed with a booming RBI-double off the left field wall, knocking out the panel in the bottom of the fifth inning on Mikos Blue Monster.

Glomb and Songco connected on back-to-back home runs with one out in the fifth inning. Glomb belted his second home run of the season on a 2-2 pitch before Songco connected on a 3-1 pitch. For Songco, the home run was his team-leading ninth of 2008. The back-to-back home runs were the first for LMU since April 9, 2005 against Portland.

Santa Clara responded to run the tally to 4-2 with one run in the top of the seventh inning. Gabe Alcantar led things off with a full-count walk before Nate Faulkner doubled off Euesbio to put runners at second and third with nobody out. Fuerst followed with a sacrifice fly to centerfield, leaving a runner at second base with one down. A bunt single followed, but Eusebio proved strong by striking out LeBlanc and inducing a groundout for the final out of the frame.

The Lions scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, highlighted by Koch's bases-clearing double with the bases loaded, to open up an 8-2 advantage after seven complete innings. Johnson singled to start the inning before a sacrifice bunt and a walk put runners at first and second. Songco singled in on the ensuing play to load the bases and set the table for Koch's double down the left field line. The freshman hit a 1-2 pitch down the line, and Songco was able to slide in just in front of the tag from catcher Tommy Medica at the plate. After a fly ball for the second out in the seventh, Sean Dovel contributed a double of his own down the left field line to cap the inning.

Santa Clara scored two two-out runs in the top of the eighth inning after Fuerst connected on a bases-loaded double down the left field line to push both runners home. A leadoff single and back-to-back two-out walks by Eusebio loaded the bases before Roberts entered out of the bullpen. Fuerst wasted no time clearing some space on the basepaths, contributing the double on the very next play to cut the Lion lead in half.

The Lions added one more insurance run headed into the bottom of the ninth, plating one run in the bottom of the eighth. Johnson collected his third hit of the day with one out in the frame, moving to second on an error by the centerfielder on that same play. A LaMonda single put runners at the corners before Glomb notched his second hit and RBI with a single to left field.

Santa Clara refused to surrender without a fight in the ninth inning, forcing a save opportunity for Kenney by scoring two runs in the frame to run the score to 9-6. A hit-by-pitch and a Medica triple scored the first run in the inning. Conan followed with a RBI-single on the ensuing play before Kenney entered and recorded the next three outs in three at bats.

LMU and Santa Clara will continue their three-game West Coast Conference series tomorrow at 1 p.m. Xavier Esquivel will take the hill for the Lions, opposed by right-hander Thain Simon for the Broncos.