The Santa Clara University baseball team fell to Saint Mary's 8-1 in their West Coast Conference series opener, despite tallying double-digit hits. The Broncos left 11 runners stranded and struggled with a .143 average with runners in scoring position. Saint Mary's pitcher John Damozonio delivered a strong performance, striking out eight and holding the Broncos to one run. The Gaels capitalized on scoring opportunities, including a three-run third inning that set the tone for the game.

By the Numbers
  • Santa Clara notched 10 hits but left 11 runners on base.
  • Saint Mary's went 5 for 14 (.357) with runners in scoring position.
State of Play
  • Santa Clara stands at 13-19 overall, with a 3-7 record in the WCC.
  • Saint Mary's improves to 19-14 overall and 6-4 in the WCC.
What's Next

The two teams meet again for game two of the series at 1 p.m. on Saturday, providing the Broncos with a chance to redeem themselves and improve their WCC standings.

Bottom Line

For Santa Clara, effective capitalizing on scoring opportunities is crucial. The inability to convert hits into runs was a key factor in their loss, underscoring the need for a sharper approach in the upcoming games.