SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The Santa Clara University baseball team rallied twice Saturday to pull within one run and started another rally in the ninth, but UNLV escaped jam after jam, tacking on insurance runs to back up shutout relief late in the game and clinch a non-conference series victory with an 8-5 win in game two at Stephen Schott Stadium.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Santa Clara (4-6) collected nine hits and seven walks Saturday, but it stranded 10 runners – eight of those in scoring position, and five of those on third base. Santa Clara slugged three doubles and its first triple of the season off the bat of Payton Lambert in the fourth inning. SCU went only 1 for 6 with runners on third base and fewer than two outs.
   
• The Broncos' three-run fourth was powered by an RBI double from Luke Devine which scored Lambert from third following his triple. Two walks, an infield single and three wild pitches in the inning helped Santa Clara pull within one at 4-3.
   
• They did it again in the bottom of the sixth on Ben Cleary's clutch two-run, bases-loaded single, pulling back within one at 6-5. A five-pitch walk loaded the bases, but a groundout ended the threat, preserving UNLV's lead.
   
• The Rebels (8-2) scored six of their eight runs with two outs, a day after scoring all five of their runs with two outs on Friday. UNLV struck in the first inning Saturday with a two-out, bases-loaded double that barely stayed inside the right field foul line, sending everyone home and giving it a 3-0 early lead. A two-out RBI single in the fourth from Gunnar Myro gave the Rebels some insurance and kept them ahead when Santa Clara rallied in the bottom half. Ayden Garcia gave them breathing room in the next inning with a one-out, two-run home run, making it 6-3.
   
• For the second straight day, UNLV got a clutch pinch-hit at-bat in the top of the ninth, this time to give itself insurance. The rally started with two outs and nobody on. A hit-by-pitch and two walks loaded the bases, and pinch-hitter Jayden Hertel snuck a ball past the Santa Clara defense on the left side to score two runs, making it 8-5.
   
• Santa Clara tried rallying again in the bottom of the ninth, starting the inning with back-to-back singles. But a double play ball and a three-pitch strikeout quickly ended the threat and the game.
   
• Santa Clara starter Jace Gillmore (0-1) struck out a career-high seven in four innings of work, walking only one and allowing four runs. Josh Johnson turned in a shutout inning of relief with a strikeout in the sixth. LJ Manning and Jacob Gomberg combined for 3 1/3 innings of shutout relief and five strikeouts for the Rebels to close out the game.
   
• Thomas Ferroggiaro reached base five times with a double and four walks. Luke Devine went 2 for 4 with an RBI, a double and two runs scored. Cooper Sheff led UNLV offensively, going 2 for 4 with two doubles, three RBIs and a run. Drew Barragan went 2 for 4 with a double and scored twice.

NOTABLE NUMBERS

• 11: Santa Clara pitchers combined for 11 strikeouts on Saturday. The staff has struck out 10 or more batters in three consecutive games and seven of the last eight.
• 28: Ferroggiaro's reached base safely streak extended to 28 games Saturday. The streak includes all 10 games of this season and 18 to end the 2025 campaign.

COMING UP

• The series finale is scheduled for noon Sunday. Fans can purchase tickets and find all live coverage links on SantaClaraBroncos.com.