SANTA CLARA, Calif. – In a game of long balls, Santa Clara baseball came up on the short end in a 10-5 defeat to Washington to open the 2023 season.

Things started well for the Broncos (0-1) who got a two-run single from Ben Steck in the second and a two-run home run from Jack Harnisch in the third to take a 4-0 lead. Malcolm Williams added his first career home run in the bottom of the fourth to tie the score after the Santa Clara lead had disappeared but that was all the scoring on the day for the Broncos.

The Huskies (1-0) muscled up and hit four home runs on the day. They had two two-run shots in a five-run fifth by Johnny Tincher and Coby Morales before Cam Clayton added a three-run shot in the sixth and Morales hit his second of the day, a solo shot in the seventh.

Cole Kitchen got the Opening Day start and lasted 3 1/3 innings while taking a no-decision. He allowed five runs on two hits with two walks and five strikeouts. Skylar Hales (0-1) took the loss in 3 2/3 innings of relief. He allowed four runs on five hits with three walks and seven strikeouts.

Jared Engman started for Washington and also got a no-decision. He tossed 3 innings while allowing four runs on two hits with four walks and a strikeout. San Boyle (1-0) got the win with 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief. He gave up a hit and two walks while punching out two. Josh Emanuels went the final 2 2/3 for the save.

NOTES

• Jack Harnisch, Ben Steck, and Bryce Padilla all made their Santa Clara debuts. It was also the collegiate debut for Padilla.

NEXT UP
The teams play a doubleheader tomorrow starting at 10 a.m.

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