Box Score SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Santa Clara received its second-straight strong pitching performance and the offense provided enough run support in Thursday's 5-0 shutout in the series opener against Sacramento State.
Russell Grant and Cole Kitchen combined to allow only three hits while striking out 15, Jake MacNichols eclipsed the school career home run record and Coleman Brigman and Austin Reyes each had two hits for the Broncos (3-5).
Jorge Bojorquez went 2-for-4 for the Hornets (5-3) who had their four-game winning streak snapped.
Kevin Haynes (0-1) suffered the loss in relief for Sacramento State. He yielded three hits and four runs (two earned).
Santa Clara snapped a scoreless tie with a pair of unearned runs in the fifth and then provided a cushion the following inning.
With one down in the sixth, Dawson Brigman's safety squeeze brought home Reyes from third base and Coleman Brigman followed with a run-scoring single to plate Matt Jew who had walked.
MacNichols launched his record-breaking home run, his second of the season, in the seventh inning. Leading off, he took a 2-2 offering from Cole Tremain and sent it well past the left field wall for his 39th career homer, snapping a tie with Kevin Dunton.
Kitchen (2-0) picked up the win with five innings of relief work. He allowed just one hit and struck out seven. Grant did not walk a batter in his four innings.
The Broncos shut out Stanford, 13-0, on Sunday.
NOTES
• The Broncos have not allowed a run 22 of their last 23 innings of play including a scoreless stretch of 18 in a row.
• Jake MacNichols entered the game tied with Kevin Dunton (1982-85) on the Santa Clara career home runs list with 38.
NEXT UP
Santa Clara and Sacramento State play the second game of the four-game series on Friday at Stephen Schott Stadium. First pitch is at 6 p.m. Due to current guidelines in Santa Clara County, spectators will not be permitted inside Schott Stadium. In addition,
only essential personnel is allowed on campus.
