SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Back-to-back home runs by Mateo Garcia and Waylon Walsh in the fourth inning propelled Santa Clara past LMU 4-2 Saturday, handing the Lions their latest setback despite a strong outing from the bullpen.

The Broncos broke open a tied game with three runs in the fourth off Lions starter Adam Behrens. Tate Medicoff had given Santa Clara an early 1-0 lead with a solo shot to center in the second, but LMU answered in the third when Jaxson Wall singled and came around to score on a Zion Williams RBI double.

Ben Cleary's RBI single had put the Broncos back in front later in the third, and Garcia and Walsh followed with consecutive solo homers in the fourth to stretch the lead to 4-1.

Zach Wadas gave LMU a pulse in the sixth with a solo home run to right off Cooper Lanz, trimming the deficit to 4-2, but the Lions managed no hits over the final four innings and could not mount a further threat.

LMU's bullpen kept the game within reach, with Jake Geis and Matt Moreno combining for four scoreless innings after replacing Behrens in the fifth. The duo held Santa Clara without a hit over that stretch, but the offense never provided the support needed to take advantage.

The Lions finished with four hits, stranded runners in five innings and were caught stealing twice, stalling what could have been early rallies.

The Lions and Broncos will finish the series on Sunday, March 29 with first pitch scheduled for 12:05 p.m. (PT).