SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Santa Clara baseball dropped the third game of the four-game series against No. 12 Washington on Sunday at Stephen Schott Stadium. Freshman catcher Nick Kahle drove in five runs for the Huskies in their 8-1 victory over the Broncos.
"Games like today challenge a team's toughness," head coach Dan O'Brien said. "Our guys played two energetic emotional games yesterday and didn't bounce back today like we'll need to later in the season. Resiliency is the key there and we'll need to improve in that area moving forward."
In his season debut, Kahle drove in two runs on a double in the fourth inning and then hit a three-run home run in the six. Fellow freshman Jordan Jones threw 6.0 innings, allowing six hits and one earned run while striking out nine batters to get the win.
After Santa Clara (1-2) had jumped out to the lead in each of the first two games, Washington (2-1) struck first in the top half of the first inning and did not relinquish that lead. Sophomore Willie MacIver singled down the right field line, driving in senior Jack Meggs. John Naff was on base and set to stop at third on the play but junior right fielder Grant Meyland struggled handling the ball so Naff took off for home and gave the Huskies a 2-0 lead.
In the second inning SCU scored its lone run of the game thanks to sophomore third baseman John Cresto. He continued his hot hitting (five hits in nine at-bats on the year) with a two-out double to drive in junior Jake Brodt who has scored three runs in the series, tops on the team.
CRESTO!!! He doubles to right center to bring home Brodt! SCU gets one back!
— Santa Clara Baseball (@SCU_Baseball) February 19, 2017
SCU 1-2 UW#StampedeTogether
Kahle then put the Huskies up 4-1 with his two-run double in the fourth inning. Freshman Grant Nechak took the loss in his collegiate debut. The righty threw 5.1 innings, allowing six hits and five runs (four earned) while walking four batters and striking out three.
In the sixth inning, Kahle homered to left field to extend Washington's lead to 7-1. Washington tacked on an unearned run in the ninth inning to end the game's scoring.
Up Next: Santa Clara and Washington are set to play the final game of the four-game series on Tuesday at 6 p.m. PT at Stephen Schott Stadium, weather permitting. The series finale was originally scheduled for Monday at 6 p.m. but was postponed due to weather.
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