MORAGA, Calif.  – The Gaels took game one of the series against Santa Clara after another stellar offensive outing secured the 9-2 victory. Friday's game was presented by Dudum Real Estate.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Jake MacNichols of the Broncos got the offense started on Friday as he drove a solo home run to right center field and put Santa Clara up 1-0. It was the first home run given up by freshman Tyler Thornton and just his eighth extra base hit allowed this season.
• Senior Austin Chauvin was walked with two outs in the bottom of the fourth before sophomore Gio Diaz dropped a single into shallow center field to put runners on first and second. Sophomore JC Santini then sent a double to left field that scored both Chauvin and Diaz to put the Gaels in the lead 2-1.
• Junior Joe Vranesh hit a leadoff single up the right field line to get the bottom of the fifth inning started for the Gaels. Freshman Bryce Willits followed with a hit to the same place and advanced Vranesh to third base. Junior Ryan Novis then came to the plate and sent a triple to the right center wall and scored both Vranesh and Willits. The Bronco relief pitcher then walked junior Kevin Milam and senior Eddie Haus back-to-back to load the bases for Chauvin. A fielder's choice to the shortstop brought the first two outs of the inning and scored Novis to give SMC the 5-1 advantage. Diaz then laid down a bunt and on the throwing error to first, Haus and Milam scored while Chauvin was advanced to third. Senior Conor Thane then dropped a single into short center field that scored Diaz and put the Gaels in the lead 8-1. Saint Mary's brought 11 batters to the plate before a foul-out ended the inning.
• Novis hit a leadoff single to right field in the bottom of the sixth to keep the hits coming in for the Gaels. After stealing second base, Novis was advanced to third as Milam flied out to right field. Haus then singled through the left side and scored Novis to give the Gaels an eight-run lead over Santa Clara.
• The Broncos hit their second solo home run of the game in the top of the ninth, but it wasn't enough to spark a comeback and the Gaels won 9-2.

QUOTABLES

"A lot of good can happen when you have zero errors and zero walks," said head coach Eric Valenzuela. "Tyler was great today, he threw more off-speed pitches than he has all season and it was a good growing moment, I'm proud of him. It's huge to win the series opener, it sets the tone for us this weekend." 

NOTABLE NUMBERS

• 14: Vranesh has now extended his hit streak to 14 games
• 19: Vranesh has now reached safely in 19-consecutive games
• 6: Six straight batters reached base in the bottom of the fifth inning
• 11: Number of batters who came to the plate in the bottom of the fifth
• 4: Total number of errors for Santa Clara on Friday
• 21: The 21st game this season in which the Gaels recorded 10 or more hits
• 46: In the last four series openers, Saint Mary's has outscored their opponents 46-2

COMING UP

Saint Mary's will continue the series against the Broncos on Saturday with first pitch at 1 p.m.   

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