SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Gabriel Hughes and Alek Jacob combined for 15 strikeouts and Andrew Orzel drove in two runs in Gonzaga's 2-0 shutout victory over Santa Clara baseball on Friday in the West Coast Conference opener.

In a pitcher's duel with Bronco starter Russell Grant, it was Hughes (1-2) who came out on top striking out a career-high 12 batters while scattering five hits and walking one over seven innings to pick up the win.

Alek Jacob retired all six batters he faced to earn his first save of the season.

The two starters pitched a scoreless game through the first five frames before Gonzaga (9-8, 1-0) broke through with a run in the top of the sixth.

The Bulldogs manufactured a run when Guthrie Morrison had a leadoff single and advanced to second on a wild pitch.  Stephen Lund moved Morrison over to third on a sacrifice bunt before coming home on Orzel's sacrifice fly to right field.

Santa Clara (6-10, 0-1) had an opportunity to answer in the home half of the sixth putting a runner in scoring position.  With two outs, Jason Dicochea singled and stole second but Hughes struck out Jake MacNichols to end the threat.

Gonzaga added an insurance run in the ninth on Orzel's solo home run off reliever Alex Waldsmith.

Grant (0-2) went six innings, matching a career-high, allowed just two hits and one run while striking out six.  Grant along with Locke Bernhardt and Waldsmith combined to yield a total of three hits and two walks.  

There were a total of eight hits in the game as no player had more than one.  

NEXT UP
The Broncos and the Bulldogs play the second game of the three-game series on Saturday.  First pitch is at 1 p.m.  Due to current State of California guidelines, spectators will not be permitted inside Stephen Schott Stadium. In addition, only essential personnel is allowed on campus. The general public is allowed only to 'pass through' campus, such as on a walk, but no lingering, gathering, lounging, etc. is permitted.