Box Score SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Santa Clara baseball fell in its 2016 season-opening game 5-0 against Notre Dame Friday night at Schott Stadium. The Broncos put their leadoff man aboard and had a runner in scoring position in three of the last four innings, but could not bring home a run.
Notre Dame starter Ryan Smoyer (W, 1-0) set the tone with 7.0 shutout innings for the Fighting Irish (1-0). He allowed only two hits to the Broncos (0-1) and retired the first 15 Santa Clara batters of the night.
Santa Clara leadoff hitters reached base in three straight innings from the sixth through the eighth — Grant Meylan singled, John Cresto doubled and Tyler Meditz drew a walk. In the ninth, Stevie Berman hit a two-out double high off the center field wall and Matt Smithwick walked as part of the Bronco comeback bid.
Notre Dame's Cavan Biggio led all batters by going 2-for-5 with two RBIs and a run scored. He opened the scoring with an RBI single in the third and added an inside-the-park home run in the fifth.
Mitchell White (L, 0-1) threw 5.2 innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits with three walks and seven strikeouts in his first career start for Santa Clara. Michael Bono struck out four batters in 3.0 innings to finish out the evening.
Santa Clara and Notre Dame return to the diamond for a 6 p.m. first pitch Saturday. Steven Wilson takes the mound for the Broncos against Peter Solomon.
Game Notes: Time of game was 2:42 … attendance was 544 … Santa Clara women's basketball head coach JR Payne threw out the first pitch the night after her team won its 20th game of the season.
