Head coach Rusty Filter enters his second year with the Broncos, coming off a 26-26 season, doubling its win total from the previous season while bringing excitement back to Schott Stadium which saw its attendance figures nearly triple.

 

"We have some veteran players that can play based on experience and we have younger, athletic players waiting for their opportunity.  I've challenged the returning players to find their best season and asked the newcomers to contribute," said Filter.  "We have a lot of new players to Division I baseball this year and I'm really excited for them to get their opportunity to see what they can do.  For the most part, we've stayed away from injuries so we are in good shape as far as having all of our players available.  We are looking forward to get the season underway."

 

The Broncos bring back 14 players from last season and welcome 21 newcomers including 14 freshmen and seven transfers.  The newcomers include 11 pitchers and 10 position players.  

 

Junior returnees Jason Dicochea, Jake MacNichols and Andre Nnebe will comprise the core position players that are expected to play everyday and will be complemented by the newcomers.  

 

"I plan on playing a lot of players. Our goal as a coaching staff, with Jon Karcich, BK Santy and Greg Gonzalez, is to find out what we have by playing many of them to keep that energy and competition," said Filter.  "There are a lot of interchangeable players by design with the newcomers."  

 

 

The Broncos lost its two most versatile pitchers, right-handers Steven Wilson and Penn Murfee, to the 2018 MLB First-Year Players Draft but return five pitchers that made 15 or more appearances last season - redshirt junior Freddie Erlandson (4-5, 5.18 ERA), redshirt junior Travis Howard (3-2, 5.03 ERA), redshirt senior Eric Lex (2-4, five saves, 5.68 ERA), junior Michael Praszker (2-2, 4.09 ERA) and Alex Waldsmith (17 appearances).  Santa Clara also brings back redshirt sophomore Brandon Buckley who is returning from an injury and Matthew McGarry who sat out last season after transferring from Vanderbilt.  

 

Wilson and Murfee, who were drafted in the eighth and 33rd rounds, respectively, by the San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners combined to appear in 40 games including 12 starts and accounted for 10 wins and eight saves last season while posting the two lowest ERAs on the team.  

 

Eleven newcomers will play a vital role in replenishing the staff. 

 

"I'm very pleased with the pitching staff as a whole.  We've shown the ability in the fall and intra squad games that we are going to throw a lot of strikes.  We brought in seven junior college pitchers to try to help us immediately," said Filter in reference to right-handed pitchers Locke Bernhardt, Ethan Heinrich, Keegan McCarville, Alex Tisminezky and left-handed pitchers Holden Bernhardt, Brendan Ecklebarger and Russell Grant II.  

 

"We also have four freshmen pitchers with a bright future and they'll get their opportunities at some point this year," Filter said about right-handed pitchers Jordan Baldwin, Alex Reelfs, Luke Tillmann and Julian Tristan.  

 

Filter is looking at a pair of right-handers in Howard and McCarville and a pair of left-handers in Ecklebarger and Grant to extend themselves as starters with Heinrich and Lex as closers.  The rest are expected to fill the various roles out of the bullpen.   

 

"My dilemma is who to pitch, when to pitch them and how long do I leave them in.  If we can keep that consistency, we can define them in roles," said Filter.  

 

McCarville will make his debut as the starting pitcher in Friday's season opener.  The 6-foot-1, 210-pounder was selected in the 24th round by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2018 MLB Draft but chose to attend Santa Clara.  

 

"The physical preparation is in the bank, whether it's running, conditioning, throwing, we can check that box.  The only thing we haven't done is to jump over the line and play ball.  What I'm excited for is to help the players work through the mental aspect on game days," said Filter.  

 

Right-handed pitcher Alec Olmstead, a transfer from Wesleyan University, will sit out the 2019 season  

 

 

Junior Jake MacNichols returns behind the dish after starting in 45 of the 48 games he played last season.  MacNichols belted eight home runs on the season and 14 over the summer while playing in the California Collegiate League.  

 

"Jake, in my mind, is one of the best catchers in the country.  He's really improved his defense and his throwing.  I haven't seen a catcher that blocks better than Jake, the ball does not get back to the backstop.  He's always had the ability to hit the ball out of the ballpark and he is primed to have a really strong season," said Filter.  

 

Sophomore Tony Boetto (15 games, seven starts) will be the primary back up to MacNichols.  

 

John Hanley, a converted infielder, and Ben McKnight, both freshmen, will add depth to the position.  

 

Freshman Matt Erickson, a strong defensive player, will sit out the 2019 season due to an injury.  

 

 

Santa Clara returns half its starting infield in junior Jason Dicochea and senior Austin Reyes but both will move positions. Dicochea, who last season led the team with a .323 batting average will move from shortstop to second base while Reyes who made 44 starts between second and short will move to the hot corner.  

 

The Broncos lost its top-two power hitters in first baseman Jake Brodt (.270, 15 home runs, 56 RBIs) and third baseman John Cresto (10 home runs) to the 2018 MLB Draft.  Brodt was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the ninth round and Cresto to the Colorado Rockies in the 28th round.  

 

"Dicochea is our best hitter.  With the game on the line, he's the one I want at the plate because he's going to give you a good at-bat, whether its a sacrifice fly, moving the runner over or driving the runner in," said Filter.  "He's gained so much confidence over the past season."  

 

Reyes returns the most at-bats in the program and along with starting at third, he is expected to play left field, second and shortstop while hitting atop the lineup.

 

"Reyes provides leadership.  He's a leader that says what needs to be said to anyone," said Filter.  "His job is to get on base and be in a position to score some runs at the top of the lineup."  

 

Freshman Dawson Brigman will be paired with Dicochea at middle infield and play shortstop.  

 

"Dawson is a game-changing defender," said Filter.  "Most good infielders to me have that clock where they throw out the runner by a step or two every time, whether it's a slow or a fast runner.  They play in different gears and he's got that."

 

Redshirt junior Ryan McCarthy (24 games, 11 starts, two home runs) will start at first base and hit in the middle of the lineup.  

 

"We are going to miss Brodt's bat but McCarthy has been really good.  He's waited for his chance and now that he's got it, he has to run with it.  We need him to have a strong season and be an every day player.  Defensively, McCarthy is a really good communicator in the infield," said Filter.  

 

Pushing the starters at the corner infield positions will be freshmen Connor Henriques and Ryan Jeffries.  

 

"Connor is the most consistent defender on the team," said Filter while Jeffries "is a really good rangy defensive player at first base." 

 

Freshmen Matthew Calhoun and Blake Faddoul will add depth to the middle infield positions while Filter likes freshman Matt Jew's hitting ability.  

 

 

Junior Andre Nnebe returns from an injury plagued sophomore season where he played in only five games.  Now healthy, the 6-foot-6, 230-pounder will patrol centerfield for the Broncos.  

 

"It's been really fun to watch Andre," said Filter.  "He's got all the tools - he can run, field, throw, hit for average and power.  Now he's got to go perform and see how he handles things with the spotlight on him."  

 

Redshirt Matt Smithwick (49 games, five home runs) will once again play the corner outfield along with a slew of versatile players including freshman Gavin Maloney, Faddoul, Reyes, Jeffries and Jew.  

 

 

Filter expects freshman Cam Allie to start the season as the Broncos designated hitter.  

 

"Cam can really hit.  He gives you good at-bats, he's a tough out and can steals bases.  He's got some grit in him," said the Broncos head coach.  

 

 

The 2019 schedule features games against three teams (Washington, Gonzaga and Stanford) that qualified for the 2018 NCAA Baseball Tournament with the Huskies advancing to the College World Series.  Among the 53 regular-season games, 29 will be played at home in Stephen Schott Stadium and 24 on the road.  2019 Schedule Release. 

 

Season or single-game tickets are available. Click here to purchase online or contact the ticket office in Leavey Center weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. at (408) 554-4660 or BroncoTickets@scu.edu. Group discounts are also available through our ticket office sales and service consultants. Gates to Stephen Schott Stadium, as well as its ticket booth, are open one hour prior to the start of the game.

 

Parking is available in the Guadalupe lot, adjacent to 455 El Camino Real. The Guadalupe lot is reserved beginning 60 minutes before game time through the end of the event for free parking. Baseball parking is no longer allowed in the lot behind Schott Stadium's left field wall. Overflow parking is available in the Leavey Center lot. Spectators that plan to arrive more than an hour prior to game time on weekdays are encouraged to purchase a parking permit for the Leavey lot. All SCU lot parking is free on weekends. ADA parking is available in the lot directly in front of the main gates; there is no general public parking in this lot. Follow signs for parking instructions. Click here for a campus parking map.