SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Two comebacks led to a 5-4 walkoff win for Santa Clara baseball Friday night in the opening game of a three-game set with UC San Diego.
The Broncos (5-4) got a leadoff single from Cal Christofori in the ninth and pinch runner Nick Poss moved up to second with one out on a wild pitch. With two down, Michael O'Hara played the role of hero with a single down the right field line to bring home the winning run.
Santa Clara entered the eighth down 4-1 after Triton (6-5) starter Matthew Dalquist shutdown the offense over 7 innings. He allowed a single run on five hits with 10 strikeouts and one walk but things began to unravel when they on the bullpen.
Ryan Rissas walked the first batter he faced in the bottom of the eighth and after a one-out single by Coleman Brigman, was lifted for Izaak Martinez. Martinez walked the first batter he faced as well to load the bases. After the second out, John Hanley came through with a bases-clearing double that evened the score at 4-all.
O'Hara finished the night with two hits as did Hanley who had three RBIs. C. Brigman also picked up two hits, including a double, and scored two runs.
Cole Kitchen started for Santa Clara and tossed 5 2/3 innings but things began to unravel after two were out in the sixth. A walk and a single were followed by two doubles to give UC San Diego on top 4-1. Another walk followed and Kitchen's night was over.
Kitchen ended up allowing four runs on nine hits but did strikeout 11 against just two walks in the no-decision. Jared Feikes (3-0) pitched a scoreless ninth with a strikeout to pick up the win.
Michael Fuhrman had two hits and two RBIs out of the leadoff spot. All but one Triton had a hit with Matt Halbach and Ryan McNally adding an RBI each.
Aren Alvarez (1-2) took the loss in 1 inning of relief. He allowed a run on a pair of hits with two strikeouts.
WALKOFF
Hear from head coach Rusty Filter after Friday's exciting win!#StampedeTogether #BroncoBoys pic.twitter.com/sgYFSGQUN5
— Santa Clara Baseball (@SCU_Baseball) March 5, 2022
INTERVIEW
Hear from head coach Rusty Filter after Friday's exciting win!#StampedeTogether #BroncoBoys pic.twitter.com/sgYFSGQUN5
— Santa Clara Baseball (@SCU_Baseball) March 5, 2022
NEXT UP
The teams play again tomorrow at 1 p.m.
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