PALO ALTO, Calif. (Interstat) — In a midweek pitchers’ duel defined by missed opportunities and dominant bullpen work, the Santa Clara Broncos scratched across two runs in the seventh inning to edge the Stanford Cardinal 2-1 on Wednesday at Klein Field at Sunken Diamond.

The game’s decisive moment arrived in the top of the seventh. With the game still scoreless, Santa Clara’s Ross worked a walk and Luetzow was hit by a pitch. After a mound visit, Anderson grounded out, moving both runners into scoring position. Cleanup hitter Devine then delivered the game’s only significant offensive blow, lacing a two-run single to left field off Stanford reliever Ketelsen to plate both runners.

That single was one of only two hits all night for the Broncos, who improved to 14-21. Stanford managed four hits but stranded 10 baserunners, going 0 for 9 with runners in scoring position and leaving the bases loaded in the eighth inning. The Cardinal fell to 16-17.

The contest was a stark departure from pregame projections. Interstat’s game simulator had forecast a 6-3 Stanford victory, with its ELO system giving the Cardinal a 71.6% probability to win. Instead, the game became a showcase for relief pitching.

Following the two-run single, Stanford’s Mike Erspamer entered and immediately struck out Walsh looking to end the threat. Erspamer was electric, fanning four over 1 1/3 perfect innings. Colt Peterson started the bullpen’s strong night for Stanford with two perfect frames and a strikeout. Toran O’Harran also contributed two hitless innings.

Santa Clara’s relievers were equally formidable after starter Dotoli departed in the second inning. The Broncos used nine pitchers, with eight combining for 7 2/3 innings of scoreless, two-hit ball. The key sequence came after Stanford loaded the bases with one out in the fourth. Jack Lazark entered and struck out Sasaki looking to escape the jam. Andrew Habermann, Vincent Braga, Sebastian Schreiber, RJ Meyn and Max Reimers all contributed scoreless outings, with Braga striking out two in a perfect seventh.

Stanford’s lone run came in the second inning without a hit. Walks to Moran and MacDonald, a wild pitch and a stolen base put runners at second and third. Stoll then grounded out to first, allowing Moran to score.

Stanford threatened again in the eighth, loading the bases with two outs on two walks and a hit batter, but Sell struck out swinging against reliever Johnson. In the ninth, Bates singled with two outs to bring the tying run to the plate, but Moran flied out to right against Meyn to end the game.

Santa Clara looks to build on the win as it opens a West Coast Conference series at Pacific on Friday. Stanford begins a pivotal Atlantic Coast Conference home series against Miami (FL) on Friday. The two Bay Area rivals will meet again next Tuesday at Santa Clara.