The Broncos won the game in the 14th inning in Wake Forest's longest game since 2013.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Playing in its longest game since 2013, Wake Forest dropped a marathon to Santa Clara by a 7-6 score at Schott Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Broncos (4-2) received a walk-off double from Joe Becht in the bottom of the 14th to win the game.
The last time Wake Forest played 14 innings was an 11-7 win over High Point on April 9, 2013.
The Demon Deacons (2-5) wasted a go-ahead home run from Patrick Frick in the second inning, as his first of three hits put Wake Forest in front until the bottom of the ninth inning.
Wake Forest led 4-3 heading into the top of the eighth, when DJ Poteet hit an RBI single to bring home Shane Muntz and extend the lead to 5-3.
The Broncos got that run back on an Austin Reyes RBI single in the bottom of the inning, but the potential tying run was thrown out at home by Christian Long to end the inning.
In the ninth, Johnny Aiello singled and came around to score on a Muntz sacrifice fly. But Santa Clara tied it in the bottom of the inning when Jake Brodt doubled and scored on a John Cresto single. Cresto then advanced to second on a wild pitch, moved to third on a groundout and scored the tying run on another wild pitch.
Wake Forest put runners on the corners in the 10th on a Christian Long walk and a Frick single, but Jake Mueller grounded into a hard-hit double play to end the inning.
Bobby Hearn pitched 4.1 innings for Wake Forest starting in the 10th. A single and two walks loaded the bases with one out for the Broncos before Hearn settled in and forced back-to-back flyouts to end the threat.
Nick DiPonzio singled and Cole McNamee doubled to put two runners in scoring position with one out in the 11th, but DiPonzio was thrown out at home on a slow chopper and then a groundout ended the inning.
Wake Forest's next good chance came in the 14th, when Muntz reached second on an error to start the inning, but the next three Deacons were retired to end the inning and set up Santa Clara's game-winner in the bottom of the frame.
Penn Murfee kept the Deacs off the board in extra innings, tossing 5.0 shutout frames for Santa Clara to earn the win.
Carter Bach started and struck out a career-high seven batters in 5.1 innings, allowing three runs on three hits and four walks.
In addition to Frick's three hits, Mueller and Bobby Seymour added two apiece for the Deacs.
The series concludes on Sunday, with first pitch set for 3 p.m. ET (noon PT).
SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Playing in its longest game since 2013, Wake Forest dropped a marathon to Santa Clara by a 7-6 score at Schott Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Broncos (4-2) received a walk-off double from Joe Becht in the bottom of the 14th to win the game.
The last time Wake Forest played 14 innings was an 11-7 win over High Point on April 9, 2013.
The Demon Deacons (2-5) wasted a go-ahead home run from Patrick Frick in the second inning, as his first of three hits put Wake Forest in front until the bottom of the ninth inning.
Wake Forest led 4-3 heading into the top of the eighth, when DJ Poteet hit an RBI single to bring home Shane Muntz and extend the lead to 5-3.
The Broncos got that run back on an Austin Reyes RBI single in the bottom of the inning, but the potential tying run was thrown out at home by Christian Long to end the inning.
In the ninth, Johnny Aiello singled and came around to score on a Muntz sacrifice fly. But Santa Clara tied it in the bottom of the inning when Jake Brodt doubled and scored on a John Cresto single. Cresto then advanced to second on a wild pitch, moved to third on a groundout and scored the tying run on another wild pitch.
Wake Forest put runners on the corners in the 10th on a Christian Long walk and a Frick single, but Jake Mueller grounded into a hard-hit double play to end the inning.
Bobby Hearn pitched 4.1 innings for Wake Forest starting in the 10th. A single and two walks loaded the bases with one out for the Broncos before Hearn settled in and forced back-to-back flyouts to end the threat.
Nick DiPonzio singled and Cole McNamee doubled to put two runners in scoring position with one out in the 11th, but DiPonzio was thrown out at home on a slow chopper and then a groundout ended the inning.
Wake Forest's next good chance came in the 14th, when Muntz reached second on an error to start the inning, but the next three Deacons were retired to end the inning and set up Santa Clara's game-winner in the bottom of the frame.
Penn Murfee kept the Deacs off the board in extra innings, tossing 5.0 shutout frames for Santa Clara to earn the win.
Carter Bach started and struck out a career-high seven batters in 5.1 innings, allowing three runs on three hits and four walks.
In addition to Frick's three hits, Mueller and Bobby Seymour added two apiece for the Deacs.
The series concludes on Sunday, with first pitch set for 3 p.m. ET (noon PT).
