Santa Clara University

SPOKANE, Wash. — The Santa Clara University baseball team battled back from an early deficit and led until the later innings, dropping a narrow 7-6 decision in game two of its West Coast Conference series versus Gonzaga at Patterson Baseball Complex.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Santa Clara (17-28, 6-14 WCC) trailed 4-0 after one inning Saturday, but it'd didn't relent. Bryant Viskovich's first career home run – a three-run shot in the top of the second – and an inside-the-park homer by Spokane native Andrew Rayment tied the game at 4-4. Johnny Luetzow – who turned in his second three-hit performance in as many days – put Santa Clara ahead, 5-4 with an RBI single to cap a five-run second inning for the Broncos.
   
• The score stayed that way until the fifth inning when Ryder Young hit a game-tying solo home run to make it 5-5. Hudson Shupe put the Bulldogs (28-16, 16-4 WCC) ahead, 6-5, later that same inning with an RBI single. Thomas Ferroggiaro didn't let that lead keep for long, as he tied it right back up in the top of the sixth with his own RBI single, making it 6-6.
   
• 2025 WCC Player of the Year Mikey Bell had the defining RBI for Gonzaga, knocking home Tommy Eisenstat on the first pitch he saw in the bottom of the sixth to put the Bulldogs ahead for good, 7-6.
   
• Santa Clara put the tying run in scoring position with two outs in the seventh thanks to a Will Anderson double, but seven consecutive strikeouts would not only strand that run on base but also end the game. The Broncos struck out a season-high 16 times, including three Ks in the eighth and ninth, and two in the second, third and fifth innings. The Broncos also hit into two double plays – one to end the sixth after tying the game at 6-6, and one in the seventh after getting the leadoff batter on base trailing by a run.
   
• Viskovich finished with his first career multi-hit game, going 2 for 3 with a home run, three RBIs and a run scored. Payton Lambert went 2 for 4 with a double and run scored, and Luetzow finished 3 for 5. Bell also went 3 for 5 with a double, RBI and run scored. Landon White (2 for 4) and Eisenstat (2 for 4, two doubles) also had multi-hit performances for Gonzaga.

NOTABLE NUMBERS

• 11: The Broncos had 11 hits again on Saturday after also tallying 11 on Friday. It was the offense's first time with back-to-back double-digit hits games since Feb. 21-22 versus UC Davis.
• 16: Santa Clara's 16 strikeouts on offense were its most since also striking out 16 times on the road at Washington on March 1, 2024.

COMING UP

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