SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Santa Clara scored four runs in the ninth inning for a come-from-behind 4-3 win over Sacramento State Tuesday afternoon at Hornet Field. The Broncos touched three Hornet relievers for four runs and five hits over the last two innings after starter Marshall Plouffe limited Santa Clara to one hit through the first seven.

The Broncos improved to 18-25 overall. Sacramento State dropped to 18-26.

Plouffe, who was making his first collegiate start, was the story

early on. The freshman did not allow a hit through 6.1 innings before

giving up a double to Alex Anderson in the seventh. The Castaic,

Calif., native ended the day with eight strikeouts and allowed only

five balls outside of the infield (four flyouts, one hit).

Sacramento State scored the game''s first run in the fourth inning

when Aurelio Jackson scored on a groundout. Jackson started the

inning by getting hit by a pitch. The senior then stole second base

to become the school''s all-time leader with 76 bags. He moved to

third on a sacrifice before scoring. Joe Evans extended the lead when

he hit A.J. Ampi''s first pitch over the center field fence to start

the fifth.

The Hornets turned the game over to their bullpen in the eighth

inning. Adam Rakela retired the first batter he faced but then hit

Clint Cleland and gave up a single to Jack Headley. Sophomore Steve

Cuckovich came on and walked the first batter he faced to load the

bases. Sacramento State ended the inning when Mike Theoharis hit a

ground ball to third where Carlos Morales stepped on the base and

threw to first for the double play.

Santa Clara erupted in the ninth inning. Matt Queen started the

inning with a single to center. He then moved to second on a passed

ball and to third on a ground out by Anderson. Cuckovich then walked

John Hilbert to place runners on the corners. Senior Michael Penbera

replaced Cuckovich but walked pinch hitter Jimmy Wallace to load the

bases. Pinch hitter Kellan McConnell tied the game with a single to

center scoring two and Joe Diefenderfer, who was also pinch hitting,

put the Broncos on top with another two-run single up the middle.

The Hornets had a chance to get back in the game in the ninth. Evans

hit his second home run of the game to make the score, 4-3. Santa

Clara then appeared to put the game away but second baseman Mike

Balestreri had a grounder go between his legs to preserve the inning.

Chad Fillinger then got John C. Freitas to foul out to third to end

the game.

Fillinger improved to 5-1 on the year after throwing the final three

innings. Penbera fell to 0-3 and was dealt his second loss in as many

games.

Sacramento State travels to Cal Poly for a three-game series starting

on Friday. The team then returns home to host Hawai''i on Tuesday and

Stanford on Wednesday. The game against the Cardinal will be played

at Raley Field.

Anthony Rea, A.J. Ampi (5), Chad Fillinger (7) and Norm Hayes, David Mandley (9); Marshall Plouffe, Adam Rakela (8), Steve Cuckovich (8), Michael Penbera (9) and Joe Evans.

TOP HITTERS: SC - Alex Anderson 2B; SAC - Joe Evans 2x4, 2 HR.