LOS ANGELES – A seven-run seventh led Santa Clara baseball to its first win of the 2022 season, a 9-7 victory at USC Sunday afternoon in the series finale.

The Broncos (1-2) scored first but found themselves down 3-1 after four and 4-2 heading into the seventh. Eleven batters came to the plate during the inning, with the big blow Michael Mugan's bases clearing double that put Santa Clara on top for good.

Dawson Brigman would add an RBI single two batters later and then some good base running netted an extra run later in the inning on an infield single by Alex Lambeau with runners on second and third. The throw to first to try and get Lambeau was in the dirt and Efrain Manzo read the bounce to score all the way from second.

The top five in the batting order did most of the damage, collecting 10 of Santa Clara's 14 hits. Michael O'Hara was 3-for-5 with two runs scored out of the lead off spot and Coleman Brigman and Matt Jew both added two hits and an RBI in the two- and three-holes. Eamonn Lance scored a run with a hit and a walk as the cleanup hitter and Mugan finished with a pair of hits and three RBIs. Lambeau had two hits out of the nine spot.

Jared Feikes (1-0) got the win in 5 innings out of the bullpen. He allowed a run on four hits with three walks and four strikeouts.

The Trojans (2-1) made things interesting with three runs in the eighth on an RBI double and a wild pitch and a passed ball that cut the lead to 9-7. In the ninth, USC got its first two runners on but Ethan Heinrich closed it out with a popup and a 4-6-3 double play for his first save of the season.

USC also scored three runs in the third inning on five singles, two of which didn't leave the infield. The rally put the Trojans on top 3-1 and ended the day for Santa Clara starter Cade Pilchard who went 2-plus innings and allowed three runs on six hits with a walk and a strikeout but got a no-decision.

Tyresse Turner led the USC offense with a 4-for-5 day and scored a pair of runs. D'Andre Smith added three hits and a walk while knocking in a run and scoring once.  Rhylan Thomas and Garret Guillemette, who had two RBIs, also had multi-hit games.

Jaden Agassi started for USC and allowed two runs on six hits with three strikeouts in 4 innings. Garrett Clarke (0-1) got tagged for the loss. He allowed four runs on four hits in 1/3 of an inning.

NEXT UP
The Broncos head to No. 6 Stanford Tuesday at 6 p.m. for the first midweek game of the season.

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