A Night of Power Hitting
On May 14, 2026, the Santa Clara Broncos traveled to Schott Stadium to face the Pepperdine Waves in a West Coast conference clash that drew a modest crowd of baseball enthusiasts.
The Broncos entered the game with a 23‑28 overall record and an 11‑14 mark in conference play, while the Waves carried a 21‑30 overall slate and a 15‑10 conference record. Both teams were looking to improve their postseason positioning.
Santa Clara struck first, plating two runs in the opening inning before extending the lead with a four‑run fifth that put the pressure on Pepperdine’s pitching staff.
The momentum continued to shift in the seventh when Max Ross launched a solo home run, adding another two runs to the Broncos’ tally and sealing a 10‑4 victory.
Right‑hander Max Bayles earned the win, improving to 5‑3 on the season with a solid outing that limited the Waves to four hits while striking out eight batters. He was supported by a timely hit from teammate Alex Martinez, who contributed an RBI single in the fifth inning.
Pepperdine’s starter Casey Euper took the loss, slipping to 5‑4 after a rough fifth inning that saw the Broncos pull ahead. Despite the setback, the Waves showed resilience, but the deficit proved insurmountable.
The win moved Santa Clara to 24‑28 overall and 12‑14 in conference, while Pepperdine fell to 21‑31 overall and 15‑11 in the league. Both coaches praised the competitive spirit of their squads, hinting at tighter races as the season winds down.
Looking Ahead
With the postseason picture beginning to crystallize, Santa Clara will aim to build on this performance when they meet Gonzaga next week, while Pepperdine hopes to rebound against Loyola Marymount in a crucial home series.