Santa Clara’s Seven-Run Fourth Haunts K-State

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Santa Clara exploded for seven runs in the fourth inning to break away from Kansas State early as the Broncos went on to take game one of the scheduled doubleheader, 9-2 at Stephen Schott Stadium.

Kansas State (0-2) got more production out of its bats than its season opener at Cal as the Wildcats scored two runs on seven hits and had many hard hits result in outs. However, Santa Clara (3-0) hit five extra base hits to fuel its big fourth inning.

After getting inning-ending double plays in each of the first two innings, K-State starter Chase Bayuk (0-1) gave up two runs in the third. The Broncos got back to back base hits by Kevin Madden and Matt Long top start the inning and with runners at first and third, Evan LeBlanc singled down the right field line to bring across the Broncos’ first run. Tommy Medica followed with a sharp hit back to Bayuk, who fumbled the ball, then made the putout at first, and Long was able to score on the play.

The Broncos broke away from the Wildcats in the fourth inning as they plated seven runs in the frame. Geoff Klein hit a leadoff double to right center and scored two batters later on a Brady Fuerst double to left field. Following back-to-back walks, Todd Vogel came on in relief of Bayuk and threw a wild pitch on his first delivery to score Fuerst and then allowed a two-run double to LeBlanc. Three batters later, Gabe Alcantar finished off the scoring outburst with a three-run homer to left field.

Nate Tenbrink scored K-State’s first run in the fifth inning as he led off the inning with a walk and moved to second on a base hit by Carter Jurica. Dellasega then recorded his first RBI of the season as he singled through the left side of the infield to score Tenbrink from second. Tenbrink added another Wildcat run in the ninth with a leadoff homer to right field, but it wasn’t enough as the Broncos shut down the Cats the rest of the inning.

The second game of the doubleheader was rained out. The Wildcats will conclude play in California tomorrow as they are scheduled to play at Cal with a first pitch set for 1 p.m. (CT).