SPOKANE, Wash. – A two-run ninth sank Santa Clara baseball in a 3-2 defeat at No. 11 Gonzaga on Friday in the first of a three-game set.

Down since the second, the Zags (30-13, 16-6 WCC) put their first two on to lead off the ninth against Broncos (24-23, 11-14 WCC) ERA leader Nick Sando. A sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third and Dylan Johnson brought home both runs with a single up the middle.

Alec Gomez (1-2) was the beneficiary and picked up the win in 2 shutout innings of relief. Starter Gabriel Hughes went 7 while allowing two runs on four hits with four walks and seven strikeouts.

Prior to the fateful ninth, Santa Clara pitching had held Gonzaga to just one run on three hits thanks to starter Cole Kitchen and Sando. Kitchen went 6 1/3 while allowing a run on two hits with three walks and five strikeouts. Sando (4-4) ended up tossing 2 innings while taking the loss.

All of the Broncos offense came in the second when Cal Christofori poked a two-run single to right with the bases loaded. He knocked in John Hanley and Michael Diaz who had both singled in the inning.

The Bulldogs would get their first run in the fourth on a bases loaded ground out by Shea Kramer that wasn't hit hard enough to get an out anywhere but first.

Johnson ended his night with a pair of hits with Sterling also collecting a pair of base hits and scoring a run. Savier Pinales was the only other Zag with a hit.

NEXT UP
The teams play again tomorrow at 6 p.m.

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