Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Santa Clara
Broncos Win Game Two 9-4; Sweep Three-Game Series
3/19/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 19, 2006
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The Santa Clara Broncos defeated Northwestern 10-4 in game two of Sunday's doubleheader sweeping the three-game series at Stephen Schott Stadium on the campus of Santa Clara University. Freshman Tony Vercelli and sophomore Antonio Mule each had two hits in the three-game series finale. The loss drops NU to 3-11 on the season.
The Broncos took an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on a three-run home run. Two singles and two fly outs preceded the long ball.
NU began chipping away, manufacturing a run in the top of the second. First baseman Pat McMahon (Mundelein, Ill./Carmel) took a four-pitch walk to start the inning and went to third after Anthony Wycklendt (Glendale, Wis./Nicolet) doubled to right field. Caleb Field's (Oak Park, Ill./Fenwick) groundout to the shortstop plated McMahon.
NU's comeback took a hit in the bottom of the third when SC scored two runs on two hits. A leadoff single was balked to second by Wildcat starter Ryan Myers (Lake Villa, Ill./Carmel) and advanced to third on a fly ball to right field. Unfortunately, Myers balked the runner home as well. After a pair of walks, a double scored Santa Clara's fifth run of the game. Myers was lifted after the double for senior Julio Siberio (Davie, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas). A groundball to first ended the inning.
NU got a run back in the top of the fifth as Tony Vercelli's (Wilmington, Ill./Wilmington) infield single was muffed by the SC first baseman. Mule, who doubled, crossed the plate when the ball entered the Santa Clara dugout.
Like good teams are supposed to do, the Broncos answered with a run of their own in the bottom half of the fifth inning. Siberio-who pitched one and one-third innings of perfect relief-was lifted for freshman Mike Folan (Arlington Heights, Ill./St. Viator). Folan lasted just three hitters, giving up a one-out double and RBI single.
Junior Bobby Ferla (Waldwick, N.J./St. Joseph Regional) did not fair any better. Ferla walked a batter, hit a batter and gave up a three-run triple. In all, SC scored four runs in the inning and led 9-2 after five complete innings.
Pinch hitters Tommy Finn (Valparaiso, Ind./Andrean) and Max Mann (Los Angeles, Calif./Brentwood) each tallied an RBI in the top of the sixth inning. Finn doubled home third baseman Jake Wilson (Palatine, Ill./Fremd) and Mann followed with an RBI single. Wilson singled to center and scored from first on Finn's double.
Freshman Eric Binder (Burr Ridge, Ill./Hinsdale Central) pitched the sixth inning and did not give up a hit.
Junior Dan Schwartz (New York, N.Y./Northern Valley Regional) came on to pitch the seventh inning. He gave up one run on one hit, a solo home run.
Senior Chris Davidson (Huntington Woods, Mich./Berkley) threw the ninth, giving up one hit.
Northwestern is back in action Thursday, March 23 at Loyola Marymount. NU will play one nine-inning game at LMU before opening a three-game series at Pepperdine on Friday. Game time versus Loyola is 2 p.m. (PT).
