SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Gabriel Hughes and Alek Jacob combined for 15 strikeouts and Andrew Orzel drove in two runs in Gonzaga's 2-0 shutout victory over Santa Clara baseball on Friday in the West Coast Conference opener.
In a pitcher's duel with Bronco starter Russell Grant, it was Hughes (1-2) who came out on top striking out a career-high 12 batters while scattering five hits and walking one over seven innings to pick up the win.
Alek Jacob retired all six batters he faced to earn his first save of the season.
The two starters pitched a scoreless game through the first five frames before Gonzaga (9-8, 1-0) broke through with a run in the top of the sixth.