SEATTLE — Opponents need to start learning that no lead is safe.
 
For the fifth time this season, the Santa Clara University baseball team fell behind early, then came from behind to earn a victory, this time beating host Washington, 8-4, Friday in the teams' series opener at Husky Ballpark.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Broncos (5-3) fell behind, 2-0, in the first inning Friday – familiar territory for them so far this year, having been outscored 26-12 in the first three innings entering Friday. But the damage could've been much, much worse, if not for the Broncos pitching core performing in the clutch early. Starter Cole Kitchen and Brayden Dotoli combined to strand six Washington (2-4-1) runners across those first three frames, including four in scoring position.
   
• That cleanup work on the mound helped set the stage for a big third inning from Santa Clara. Michael O'Hara tied the game on a two-run single and Jordan Lewis cleared the bases with a go-ahead, three-run triple to put the Broncos up for good at 5-2. Freshman Ben Cleary started the rally with a leadoff double from the nine-hole in the batting order, rolling it over to the top for the damage to begin.
   
• Reliever Blake Hammond (1-1) cruised after that. He threw 5 1/3 shutout innings while striking out eight to earn his first win of the year. He recorded at least one strikeout in every full inning he pitched, including three in the fifth and two in the ninth. He capped the game with a flare, striking out pinch hitter Carson Whitton swinging on a full count with the tying run on deck.
   
• Catcher Ben Steck recorded his second multi-hit game in the last three, going 2 for 5 with a season-high three RBIs. Both of his hits came in the later innings and provided the Broncos with insurance. First, a two-out, two-strike, two-run single in the seventh, making it 7-4 at the time. Then, a first-pitch RBI single right back up the middle to tack on another run at 8-4.

T3 | #Broncos 5, @UW_Baseball 2

Tied no more!

Jordan Lewis clears the bases with a ??-?????? ???????????? to put Santa Clara ahead!#StampedeTogether | #SCUBroncos pic.twitter.com/fZbGHDvy3N

— Santa Clara Baseball (@SCU_Baseball) March 2, 2024

NOTABLE NUMBERS

• 11 and 10: Santa Clara pitchers recorded their second-most strikeouts in a game this season, whiffing 11 Huskies. But they also allowed their most walks in a game with 10.
• 13: Even with all those free base runners Friday, Washington left 13 runners on base. The Huskies went 5 for 23 (.217) with runners on base.
• .444: The Broncos did all their work offensively when it mattered most, batting .444 (8 for 18) with runners on base and .429 (6 for 14) with runners in scoring position. Washington was only 3 for 18 (.167) with runners in scoring position and only had one two-out RBI compared to Santa Clara's six.

NEXT UP
The series continues Saturday with a first pitch scheduled for 2:05 p.m. Fans can find all live coverage links on SantaClaraBroncos.com.