LOS ANGELES — The Santa Clara University baseball team led wire-to-wire Friday in evening its West Coast Conference series at LMU, beating the Lions, 7-2, in game two at Page Stadium.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Broncos (15-20, 4-7 WCC) got on the board in the first inning thanks to four consecutive walks issued by LMU starter Zach Bender (1-1). They'd add two more in the second inning with a two-out rally. Thomas Ferroggiaro walked, Ben Cleary singled and Mateo Garcia walked – all after two outs were recorded – before Dylan Joyce drove in two runs with a single to make it 3-0.
   
• Joyce had himself quite the day on both sides of the ball. He'd add to the Broncos' lead again in the fourth with a two-run double, making it 5-0 at the time. He tied his career high with four RBIs and went 2 for 3 with a double and two walks. Joyce also turned a clutch unassisted double play in the seventh. LMU (21-18, 8-6 WCC) was threatening with the bases loaded, no outs and the go-ahead run at the plate in a 5-2 game. He snagged a line drive off the bat of Ornelas and dove for the first base bag with his glove to beat Ayers trying to get back, throwing two outs on the board and getting rid of a base runner in the process.
   
• Mateo Garcia also got in on the scoring fun, hitting a two-run triple in the eighth to make it 7-2 and put the Broncos' lead back at five runs. The top-four batters in Santa Clara's batting order went a combined 7 for 13 (.539) with six RBIs and seven runs scored. In contrast, the bottom four of SCU's order went 1 for 17 (.059) with one run scored and four strikeouts.
   
• LMU actually outhit the Broncos, 10-9, but stranded 13 runners. The Lions went just 2 for 11 (.182) with runners in scoring position Friday. Eight of their 13 runners left on were left in scoring position, and they left the bases loaded twice without scoring any runs.
   
• Cooper Lanz made a strong start for Santa Clara, striking out four and only allowing two hits in 3 1/3 shutout innings. It was Jace Gillmore (2-1) who earned the win, going 2 2/3 innings with three strikeouts. He entered in the fourth inning and escaped a bases-loaded jam to keep LMU off the board. Jack Lazark earned his first career save, escaping a bases-loaded jam in the eighth with the tying run on deck, and then needing only five pitches to get through the ninth inning and preserve the victory.

NOTABLE NUMBERS

• 8: Santa Clara now has eight saves as a team. Lazark became the fourth Bronco this season to record a save. The team had 13 saves in 2024.
• 9: The Broncos are now 9-2 this season when they score more than five runs in a game. They've won each of their last two such performances, both in WCC play.

COMING UP

• The rubber match of the series is scheduled for a 1 p.m. first pitch on Saturday. Fans can find all live coverage links on SantaClaraBroncos.com.