SANTA CLARA, Calif. — You gotta love them – especially on Valentine's Day.
The rallying "Bronco Boys" of the Santa Clara University baseball team made a triumphant return on Friday, scoring four runs in the bottom of the ninth for a come-from-behind, walk-off victory on Opening Night over visiting CSUN at Stephen Schott Stadium.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Santa Clara (1-0) had been stifled for the most part through eight innings Friday. It loaded the bases in the first with three walks but failed to score. Only two base runners made it past second base after that, including the Broncos' first run of the game in the sixth – an RBI single from Malcolm Williams to score newcomer Max Ross – a prelude of things still to come.
- The comeback in the ninth seemed almost inevitable as CSUN (0-1) fell apart more and more with each at-bat. Three hit-by-pitches and two walks fueled the final rally. CSUN's Logan Miller (0-1) had just ended the eighth with back-to-back strikeouts, but now couldn't find the strike zone. He'd hit three batters in the ninth before being replaced by Hayden Hall. Hall entered to try and stop the bleeding, but he, too, struggled with the strike zone and delivered two bases-loaded walks to tie the game at 4-4.
- But the end of it all wasn't earned easily. Johnny Luetzow gritted out a tough, eight-pitch at-bat to earn the game-tying walk on a full count. Williams stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and the winning run only 90 feet away. He fell behind to Hall, 1-2, but took a high fastball to even the count, then fouled off back-to-back pitches.
- On the seventh pitch of the at-bat, Williams sent his second RBI knock of the game into right-center field, ending the 2025 season opener in dramatic fashion.
- Williams was the only Bronco with multiple hits Friday, extending his still-active hitting streak that dates to last season to eight games. Mateo Garcia (1 for 3, double, RBI, two walks) and Ross (1 for 4, double, RBI, walk) both had hits and reached base multiple times in their Santa Clara debuts.
- Colton Boardman led CSUN's offense with a 2-for-3 night. CSUN outhit the Broncos, 8-6, but issued nine free passes on the night – 11 if you include the Matadors' two errors on defense. CSUN starter Ryan Halamicek had his Opening Night start spoiled. He threw five innings of shutout ball, only allowing one hit and departing in line for the win with a 2-0 lead. After struggling in the first and escaping a bases-loaded jam, he retired eight in a row and 12 of 15 to finish his outing.
NOTABLE NUMBERS
- 7: Seven Broncos newcomers made their Santa Clara debuts Friday night, including four true freshmen making their collegiate debuts on Opening Night – Luke Devine, Tate Medicoff, RJ Meyn and Andrew Rayment.
- 8: Williams' active eight-game hitting streak includes six multi-hit games. He's hitting .452 with six RBIs during the streak.
COMING UP
- The series continues at 1 p.m. Saturday with game two. CSUN is slated to throw right-hander Diego Gutierrez, while the Broncos' starter is still to be determined. Fans can purchase tickets and find all live coverage links on SantaClaraBroncos.com.
