Santa Clara, Calif. - Behind a big start and a heart-pumping finish, the Tigers came up with a one-run win on Sunday, March 29, defeating Santa Clara, 7-6, at Schott Stadium. The win for Pacific (5-20, 4-5 WCC) was their fourth-straight Sunday victory while snapping the Broncos' (13-13, 5-4 WCC) five-game winning streak.

In what became a theme for the weekend for the Tigers at Santa Clara, Pacific jumped on the Broncos early with three runs in the top of the first. Using three hits in the first four batters, the Tigers spotted starter Michael Benson the lead with the big hit coming from Brett Sullivan as the junior hit his first home run of WCC play in his first at bat of the day. Hitting behind Gio Brusa, Sullivan turned on a pitch over the middle of the plate and sent it over the wall in right field for his third home run of the week and first RBIs of the conference season. Scoring alongside of Sullivan was Brusa after the junior slugger had driven in the first run of the game, scoring Tyler Sullivan from second with an RBI single to left.

Unlike the two nights prior, the Tigers were able to build on their early success as they added three more runs in the third, using a thousand tiny cuts to do their damage. Again, it was the elder Sullivan that got things started with a single before moving to second on Louis Mejia's second sacrifice bunt in as many at bats. After moving to third on a dribbler to third by Brusa, Sullivan would score for the second time on a base hit the other way by his younger brother, B. Sullivan. A flared single to right by J.P. Yakel allowed Brusa to score from second while B. Sullivan would score moments later on a perfectly executed safety squeeze bunt by J.J. Wagner.

After cruising through the first four innings, Benson got into trouble in the fifth as the Broncos used their magic inning to climb back into the game. Using just two hits and a handful of defensive mistakes by the Tigers, Santa Clara notched four runs in the frame to make it a whole new ball game.

The trouble would run Benson from the game as he turned the ball over to his bullpen with two outs in the fifth as he was forced to watch the rest of the way. His final line went 5.2 IP with five hits and four runs, three earned, while walking three and striking out one. In relief, Jake Jenkins (1-4) earned his first win of the season as he went 2.1 IP while giving up just one hit and striking out three. 

Sophomore closer Vince Arobio (3) finished off the Sunday victory for the Tigers with a two-inning save, his third save in four chances. The second-year hurler was forced to work for his food as he relinquished his first earned run of conference play in the eighth and another in the ninth before ending the Broncos' comeback hopes stranding the tying run at first with his first strike out of the day.  

Prior to the entrance of Arobio, the Tigers' offense gave their pitching staff a critical run of insurance in the top of the eighth after coming up just short of adding to the lead in the two previous innings. After giving himself up to set up the scores early, Mejia came through with the RBI single in the inning as he drove home Danny Mayer from third. Mayer had replaced Nate Verlin on the bases after the freshman started the inning off with a pinch hit double down the left field line.

The loss was charged to Broncos' starter, Evan Brisentine (1-2) as he went 5.1 IP while giving up nine hits and six runs.

Offensively the day was owned by the top of the Tigers' order as they combined for eight of the 12 hits with B. Sullivan leading the charge with three hits and three RBI. T. Sullivan and Brusa each recorded two hits on the day while scoring a pair of runs each.

The Tigers are back in action Tuesday, March 31 when they take on Sacramento State at Klein Family Field to kick off a four-game homestand. The contest against the Hornets is scheduled for 6:00 pm.