SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The University of Nevada (1-0) baseball team got outstanding pitching and timely hitting to defeat Santa Clara (0-1) 4-2, in the season opener for both schools on Friday night at Stephen Schott Field. It marked the second year in a row and 11th time in head coach Gary Powers 28 years that the Wolf Pack won its season opener.
Senior Beau Witsoe (1-0) allowed two runs on five hits to get the win while sophomore Jayson McClaren and senior Tyler Graham tossed two perfect innings each. Graham (1) earned the save pitching the final two innings of the game.
Right fielder Brian Barnett doubled to start the second inning and eventually scored on freshman second baseman Cullen Mahoney's ground ball to second base and the Pack led 1-0. After the Barnett double designated hitter Brock Stassi walked and third baseman Garrett Yrigoyen sacrificed both runners into scoring position for Mahoney who drove in his first collegiate run.
Stassi hit the first pitch of the fourth inning over the right field fence and the Pack led 2-0. Barnett delivered a two-out single to score a pair of runs in the top of the fifth inning to make the score 4-0. Shortstop Kevin Rodland and center fielder Westley Moss scored on the play after they both singled in back-to-back at bats with one down.
The Broncos got a two-run homer from first baseman Curtis Wagner in the bottom of the sixth inning to cut Nevada's lead in half at 4-2 that would be all the scoring for SC as they only had one more runner reach base.
Stassi (3-for-3,R,RBI) had a perfect night at the plate with three hits and blasted a solo home run. Barnett (2-for-4,R,2RBI) collected a pair of hits and drove in two. Rodland (2-for-4,R) also had two hits for the Pack and scored a run.
Wagner (3-for-4,R,2RBI) topped SC with three hits which included his two-run homer. Bronco starter Nate Garcia (0-1) was tagged with the loss allowing four runs on seven hits in 5.1 innings on the mound.
Game two of the three-game series is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on Saturday.
