SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Two crooked numbers made all the difference Monday night, as the Santa Clara University baseball team went ahead with a three-run sixth before Clemson took the lead back with a four-run eighth and held on for a 6-4 non-conference victory at Stephen Schott Stadium.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Broncos' (13-18) comeback rally in the sixth started with a leadoff single from Ben Cleary – only Santa Clara's second hit of the game at that point. Johnny Luetzow doubled him home two batters later to get the Broncos on the board, and Will Anderson singled in Luetzow on the first pitch he saw to tie the game at 2-2. The Broncos then drew three consecutive two-out walks to force home the go-ahead run and take a 3-2 lead.
   
• Clemson (22-12) used three pitchers in that sixth inning and finally settled things down, with Joe Allen (3-0) getting a nine-pitch strikeout to leave the bases loaded and limit the damage. Clemson also got the Broncos to leave the bases loaded in the fifth after two free passes (a walk and hit-by-pitch) and a single. Thomas Ferroggiaro was the victim both times, flying out to center in the fifth and striking out in the sixth to leave them loaded.
   
• The Tigers did most of their damage in the eighth with one swing. A two-out, three-run homer off the bat of Jason Fultz Jr. – the first long ball of his career – put Clemson back ahead, 5-3. Two more singles with a stolen base sandwiched in between scored an insurance run to make it 6-3.
   
• Santa Clara hit three extra-base hits on Monday, including Luetzow notching one for the fourth consecutive game with his RBI double in the sixth. Luke Devine and Camden Sos both had doubles off the bench. The Broncos stranded six runners in scoring position, two at third base in an eventual two-run decision.
   
• Tyler Alleman started on the mound for Santa Clara and set a new career high with five strikeouts in his three innings of work. Sebastian Schrieber threw a scoreless inning, and Hunter Hargett notched two strikeouts in 1 1/3 innings of shutout work. Allen earned the win for Clemson with 1 1/3 shutout innings, and Justin LeGuernic recorded his third save, only allowing an eighth-inning sacrifice fly with two strikeouts in two innings.

NOTABLE NUMBERS

• 12: Santa Clara pitchers recorded 12 strikeouts on Monday. It's the 13th game this season the staff has had double-digit strikeouts in a game, a scenario the team is now 6-7 in.
• 16: With Monday's comeback to take the lead in the sixth, the Broncos have now erased 16 total deficits at any point of the game this season.

COMING UP

• Santa Clara's home stand continues with a three-game West Coast Conference series versus East Bay rival Saint Mary's starting Friday. Fans can purchase tickets and find live coverage links on SantaClaraBroncos.com.