SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Another day, another game of contributions from all up and down the Santa Clara University baseball team's roster.
 
The Broncos put up double-digit hits in the batter's box and double-digit strikeouts on the mound Saturday to clinch a West Coast Conference series win over Pepperdine with a come-from-behind, 6-3 victory at Stephen Schott Stadium.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• It took a while, but once Santa Clara (17-15, 5-6 WCC) broke into the Waves' (12-23, 6-5 WCC) bullpen it was set – like a predator patiently moving its prey into position for the strike. Pepperdine starter Tommy Scavone only allowed one run through five innings with four strikeouts, and he departed in line for the win with a 3-1 lead. But his five innings were laborious, throwing 91 pitches and stranding six Broncos on base.
   
• Gunnar Nichols followed Scavone for the Waves, bringing with him his 7.09 season ERA. He retired the first batter he faced on three pitches on a weak infield pop-up, but before you knew it, the next four Broncos reached base on three singles and a hit-by-pitch, and it was 3-2. Collin Valentine entered next with a 6.45 ERA and the bases loaded. He proceeded to give up three more RBI singles and a sacrifice fly, making it a five-run inning and a 6-3 lead for Santa Clara.
   
• Contrastingly, Santa Clara's bullpen was well-represented by one player – Max Bayles. It was a season-best outing for Bayles (4-1), who threw a season-long 5 2/3 shutout innings, only facing two over the minimum. He struck out a season-high five and walked none. Cade Pilchard struck out six before he departed in the fourth, giving the staff 11 strikeouts in the game and 20 for the weekend.
   
• The Broncos' lineup nearly repeated its feat from Friday's opener when it got hits from all nine starters. Eight of Saturday's starters got hits, led by Michael O'Hara's hit-streak-extending, 3-for-5 day at the top of the order. Santa Clara got four more multi-hit games Saturday after having five on Friday.
   
• Connor Walsh led the way for Pepperdine's offense with two hits. Connor Bradshaw went 1 for 4 with a two-run single in the third that broke a scoreless tie.

NOTABLE NUMBERS

• 6: Santa Clara has won six in a row over Pepperdine dating to the 2022 season. It's the Broncos' most consecutive wins over the Waves in at least the last 48 years (since 1977). Their previous best streak in the series was five in a row from 2002-03, more than 20 years ago.
• 7: O'Hara extended his season-long hit streak to seven games Saturda with three hits. It was his fourth multi-hit game during the streak and second in a row. He's batting .400 (12 for 30) during the streak that dates to March 30 at San Francisco.
• 29: 13 more hits on Saturday for Santa Clara gave it 29 in the series. It's the first time the team has had at least 29 total hits across two consecutive games since also totaling 29 on March 8-9 versus UC Davis. It was the third time this season they've achieved the feat, first doing so on Feb. 17-18 at Arizona State (32 total hits).

NEXT UP

• The series concludes Sunday with a noon first pitch. Fans can purchase tickets and find all live coverage links on SantaClaraBroncos.com.