One inning. One player. 8 RBI. Jake Brodt had himself a day.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Preseason All-West Coast Conference selection Jake Brodt blasted two grand slams in the seventh inning to power the Santa Clara baseball past Boston College, 20-9, and help head coach Rusty Filter earn his first win at the school.
Brodt is just the seventh Division I player to hit two grand slams in one inning since the official NCAA Division I baseball records began keeping track in 1957. He is the first to record the feat since T.J. Soto of Louisiana Tech did it against Western Kentucky in 2000.
HIGHLIGHT | @JakeBrodt30 hits TWO GRAND SLAMS IN ONE INNING during today's 20-9 victory over Boston College! #SCTop10 #SCUBroncos #StampedeTogether #TopPlayTuesday @SportsCenter @ESPNAssignDesk @NCAACWS @d1baseball @WCCSports FULL HIGHLIGHT https://t.co/WSujyxR3uI pic.twitter.com/7vVaP7v6Pd
— Santa Clara Baseball (@SCU_Baseball) February 18, 2018
Brodt's first grand slam came with Santa Clara trailing 9-7 and gave the Broncos the go ahead runs. Santa Clara loaded the bases on two walks and a hit batsmen setting the stage for the six-foot-five first baseman against Eagles right-handed pitcher John Witkowski.
"In similar situations in the past, I tend to get jumpy but after being in that position and experiencing it multiple times, I was able to find comfort in the box," said the senior. "I've been seeing the ball well and I just wanted to trust my swing and that's what I did."
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The same bases loaded situation presented itself later in the inning with the Broncos up, 16-7, this time against left-hander Mitch Bigras.
"It was definitely on my mind," said Brodt when the opportunity came up to potentially hit a second grand slam. "How often do you come up with that type of situation twice in an inning. I just tried to stay comfortable in the box and not try to do too much with it. I knew right off the bat when I hit it."
Asked about the reaction of his teammates after the grand slams, the senior captain said, "Some were quiet because they were in disbelief but everyone was super excited for me. I'm excited for the team because we've been working so hard these past few months and we deserved this win."
Locker room welcome for @jakebrodt30 after hitting three homers in the game including TWO, that's , grand slams in one inning. #StampedeTogether pic.twitter.com/eLiovj2AIz
— Santa Clara Baseball (@SCU_Baseball) February 18, 2018
The second grand slam capped off a 14 run inning for the Broncos, which included seven hit batsmen. It also capped off a three home run day for Brodt who hit a solo home run in the sixth inning to cut the Broncos deficit to 9-6.
"For the first homerun, I was in a position where I couldn't tie the game or put us ahead at that point so I was just trying to get a base hit," said Brodt. "Luckily the pitcher game me a pitch I could handle. I just tried to put my team in a position to score and I'm glad everyone carried that momentum the rest of the game. "
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A momentum that he rode into a record night, going 3-for-5 at the plate, all going for home runs while driving in 10 runs. Fittingly, Brodt drove in the first run of the game for the Broncos on a sacrifice fly in the first.
The rubber match of the series is set for noon on Sunday.
