Jan. 27, 2007
HONOLULU, Hawaii - The 2007 season opener for the Santa Clara baseball team started off well enough, with a leadoff double and a one-run lead after the first inning. But not much went right the next eight innings for the Broncos, who dropped an 8-1 decision to the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors Friday night.
The series will continue Saturday afternoon with a 4:05 p.m. PT first pitch, as freshman Nate Garcia takes the mound for the Broncos (0-1), opposite Hawaii's Mark Rodrigues.
Along with his double to start the game, senior Kevin Drever went 3-for-4 and scored SCU's lone run of the contest after being driven in by Matt Long's double. Junior Gabe Alcantar was perfect with four singles on the day, while sophomore transfer Evan LeBlanc had a pair of hits in his Broncos debut.
Matt Wickswat took the loss for the Broncos, surrendering five runs on six hits and four walks in two and two-thirds innings. Chris Stansbury was a bright spot out of the bullpen, striking out a pair and allowing only one hit in an inning and two-thirds of work.
Hawaii evened the score in its half of the second on catcher Landon Hernandez' RBI single, which scored Kris Sanchez, who led the inning off with a double. The Rainbow Warriors then took a commanding 5-1 lead with a four-run third in which they sent 10 batters to the plate. A single sandwiched by a pair of walks loaded the bases for Sanchez, who walked to drive in the go-ahead run, followed by a sacrifice fly and two singles which all drove in a run.
Sanchez led Hawaii with a 3-for-4 effort which included a pair of doubles, two runs scored and two driven in. Evan Zimny had three singles while second baseman Jonathan Hee went 2-for-3 with a run scored.
Two runs in the bottom of the sixth from Sanchez' second double of the game and Elijah Christianson's second sacrifice fly of the game helped the Rainbow Warriors secure the season-opening victory.
