SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The Santa Clara University baseball team had the tying or go-ahead run on base in four separate innings Friday, but visiting Saint Mary's was able to escape each time, holding off the Broncos for a West Coast Conference series-opening, 5-3 win at Stephen Schott Stadium.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Two-time WCC Player of the Week Christian Almanza was a one-man wrecking crew for Saint Mary's (25-14, 10-3 WCC) on Friday night. The senior left-handed-hitting first baseman hit three solo home runs with three runs scored and three RBIs. He also had an infield single in the first inning that resulted in the first run of the game coming across to give the Gaels an early 1-0 lead. The other eight hitters in the Gaels' lineup went a combined 6 for 32 (.188) with only one RBI and two runs scored.
   
• Coleman Schmidt hit a leadoff solo home run in the top of the fifth to put Saint Mary's up 3-0, and that was key for the Gaels because Santa Clara (19-19, 6-7 WCC) went to work chipping away at the lead in the bottom half. Two leadoff walks to Coleman Brigman and Efrain Manzo would both come home to score on an RBI single from Robert Hipwell and a sacrifice fly from Malcolm Williams, and suddenly it was a one-run game at 3-2.
   
• Manzo and Hipwell reached in the sixth with one out and the Broncos trailing 4-2, but a strikeout and a hard-hit lineout to shortstop ended the threat. Dylan Joyce drew a one-out walk in the seventh and Ben Cleary singled to put two on with one out again, but like the inning before, a groundout and a hard-hit fly ball to center would strand the tying runs on base for the Broncos.
   
• Josh Johnson, Victor Martinez and Cole Kitchen all threw shutout innings of relief for Santa Clara. Hipwell finished with a 3-for-4 day at the plate with a double and an RBI. Ben Steck and Williams also had RBIs. Brandon Gomez (2-2) was one strikeout short of his career high, whiffing eight Gaels against only one walk. Saint Mary's starter Derik Eaquinto (4-1) pitched into the seventh with seven strikeouts and four walks. Ryan Wiltse threw 2 1/3 innings of relief for Saint Mary's, allowing one run on two hits for his first save of the season.

NOTABLE NUMBERS

• 11: Williams extended his reached base safely streak to 11 games Friday with a hit, going 1 for 3. He has nine hits, seven walks and five hit-by-pitches during his streak.
• 12: With three hits Friday, Hipwell has reached base 12 times in four games since making his season debut on Saturday. That includes seven hits with four doubles.

NEXT UP

• The series continues Saturday with game two slated for a 1 p.m. first pitch. Fans can purchase tickets and find all live coverage links on SantaClaraBroncos.com.