SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The Cardiac Broncos were at it again with their fifth walkoff win of the season on Thursday night. This one featured a four-run ninth inning that lifted Santa Clara baseball to a 5-4 win and sealed a spot in the West Coast Conference Tournament for the first time since 2014.
Down 4-1 headed into the ninth, the Broncos (29-18, 15-10 WCC) rallied to get within one at 4-3 with the bases loaded but a strikeout had them down to their final chance. Senior Michael O'Hara was unfazed and came through in the clutch with a single up the middle to knock in the tying and winning runs.
We won't lie, tonight was pretty fun!
— Santa Clara Baseball (@SCU_Baseball) May 19, 2023
✅ Walkoff win!
✅ Senior @_michaelohara with the game-winner to start Senior Weekend!
✅ Clinch a spot in the @WCCsports Tournament!#StampedeTogether pic.twitter.com/hY9eV3NMlA
In the ninth, pinch-hitter Nick Bacura and JonJon Berring both had RBI singles with Malcolm Williams also collecting a single and Coleman Brigman and Ben Steck both drawing walks.
Berring finished the night with two hits and Brigman accounted for all the offense before the ninth, a solo home run in the second.
Brandon Gomez (5-3) pitched 3 one-hit innings of relief with three strikeouts to collect the win. Cole Kitchen started and tossed 6 innings while allowing four runs on seven hits with four strikeouts in the no-decision.
A pair of long balls in the fifth looked like they would be enough for the Bulldogs (18-31, 14-11 WCC). With the score tied at 1-all, Mason Marenco hit a two-run shot to center and later in the inning, Connor Coballes hit one out to left. It was the first of the year for both players.
Sam Stem and Dylan Johnson both had two hit games with Johnson also knocking in a run.
Ty Buckner (0-3) ended up with the loss in 2/3 of an inning of work. He gave up three runs on four hits with a walk and a strikeout. Starter Owen Wild got a no-decision in 6 innings of work. He allowed a run on four hits with a walk and five strikeouts.
NEXT UP
The teams play tomorrow at 6 p.m.
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