SANTA CLARA, Calif. (Interstat) — Jason Fultz hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning to break open a tight game and the Clemson Tigers held off a late rally to defeat the Santa Clara Broncos 6-4 on Monday at Stephen Schott Stadium.

The Tigers, who improved to 22-12 overall, built an early lead but saw it nearly vanish before Fultz’s decisive blast. The third baseman finished 2 for 3 with three RBIs and two runs scored, providing the critical offensive punch in a game otherwise dominated by pitching.

Clemson struck first in the opening inning. Andrew Savoie led off with a double, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a two-out single by Jacob Jarrell. The Tigers added another run in the fourth when Cam Lichtenberge doubled, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a sacrifice fly by Nolan Moore, making it 2-0.

That slim margin was protected by a string of stellar relief appearances from the Clemson bullpen, led by Talan Bell. The right-hander, who had allowed four earned runs in his last appearance against Miami, delivered three perfect innings of relief with three strikeouts. He was followed by scoreless outings from Dane Moehler, Ariston Veasey and Joe Allen, who combined for 3 2/3 innings of hitless baseball.

The Broncos, falling to 13-18, finally broke through against reliever Justin Simpson in the sixth. Michael Cleary singled and scored on an RBI double by Matt Luetzow. Luetzow then came home on a single by Cole Anderson, cutting the deficit to 2-1. After a pitching change, Santa Clara loaded the bases and pushed across two more runs on a walk and a hit-by-pitch, tying the game at 3 and chasing Simpson.

Joe Allen entered with the bases loaded and induced an inning-ending groundout to preserve the tie. That set the stage for Clemson’s response in the top of the eighth.

With one out, Will Gaffney was hit by a pitch. After a pitching change and a foul out, Lichtenberge singled, putting two runners on for Fultz. On a 1-1 count from reliever Jack Meyn, Fultz drove a pitch over the left-field fence for a three-run home run, restoring Clemson’s lead at 6-3.

Santa Clara answered in the bottom half against Justin LeGuernic. Pinch-hitter Jon Sos doubled, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly by Jack Lambert. Michael Devine followed with a double, bringing the tying run to the plate, but LeGuernic struck out Michael Ferroggiaro to end the threat.

LeGuernic returned for the ninth and retired the side in order to secure the win for Clemson.

Tyler Alleman started for Santa Clara and was effective, allowing one run on three hits over three innings with five strikeouts. Vincent Braga gave up one run in two innings of relief.

The game’s outcome defied the projection from Interstat’s game simulator, which had forecast a 4-2 Santa Clara victory, though the service’s ELO rating system heavily favored Clemson.

Clemson’s bullpen was the foundation of the victory, with six relievers combining for seven innings of two-hit, one-run ball after starter Dane Moehler pitched two hitless frames. The Tigers collected eight hits to the Broncos’ six.

Clemson continues its road trip with a weekend series at North Carolina beginning Friday. Santa Clara opens a West Coast Conference home series against Saint Mary’s on Friday.