SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Another back-and-forth battle ensued Saturday, featuring four lead changes and five extra-base hits from the Santa Clara University baseball team, but it was visiting Pacific who'd again escape with a narrow one-run victory, clinching a West Coast Conference series triumph with a 9-8 win over the Broncos at Stephen Schott Stadium.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• It was Déjà vu all over again for the Broncos (15-23, 4-10 WCC), as Pacific (18-25, 6-8 WCC) again used a big, two-out, three-run homer to take the lead for good, just like Friday night. This time it was Braeden Schnabel who capped a six-run, come-from-behind rally in the eighth inning with a three-run bomb high over the center field wall to put the Tigers ahead, 9-6.
   
• Santa Clara didn't lie down though. It got back a run in the bottom half of the eighth thanks to an RBI double from Max Ross. The Broncos started rallying again in the bottom of the ninth, getting the first two batters on base to bring the winning run to the plate. Thomas Ferroggiaro brought home a run with a sacrifice fly, and the tying run was still in scoring position, but a groundout ended the threat and the game.
   
• Santa Clara used three pitchers in the top of the eighth trying to preserve its 6-3 lead. But four free passes in the frame (three walks, one hit-by-pitch) all came around to score as part of Pacific's six-run outburst. Andrew Sloan drew a two-out, bases-loaded walk on a full count to make it 6-4. DJ Scott tied the game at 6-6 by punching a two-run single through the left side of the infield, and Schnabel's homer punctuated the rally.
   
• The Broncos had surged ahead in the fifth with their own big rally to take a 6-3 lead, also highlighted by a home run. They got RBI hits from Andrew Rayment and Ferroggiaro to tie the game at 3-3. Santa Clara went ahead, 4-3 on an RBI fielder's choice from Ben Cleary, and Dylan Joyce accented the inning with a two-run blast to left-center, his second home run of the game after hitting an opposite-field solo shot in the second.
   
• Brandon Gomez threw his second quality start of the year, only allowing three runs on four hits in seven innings of work while striking out four. Gomez departed with the lead after throwing three consecutive scoreless innings in the fifth, sixth and seventh, but got a no-decision.
   
• Rayment posted his first career multi-hit game, going 3 for 4 with two doubles, a run scored and an RBI to lead Santa Clara. Fellow freshman Tate Medicoff also had his first multi-hit performance, going 2 for 3 with a walk and a run scored. Joyce went 2 for 4 with three RBIs, two runs scored and his first multi-home run game as a Bronco. Santa Clara outhit Pacific, 10-6, with Schnabel turning in the Tigers' lone multi-hit game, going 2 for 3 with four RBIs and a run scored.

NOTABLE NUMBERS

• 3: Santa Clara turned three double plays Saturday, its most in a single game this season. It was the most double plays it's turned in a single game since April 28, 2023, at Pepperdine when it also turned three.
• 5: Each of the Broncos last five defeats have all come by one run. They have held at least a one-run lead in each of the last four of those setbacks.

COMING UP
Sunday's series finale is scheduled for a noon start. The Broncos then conclude their home stand at 5 p.m. Tuesday with a non-conference midweek game versus Cal Poly. Fans can purchase tickets and find all live coverage links on SantaClaraBroncos.com.