SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The Utah baseball team struggled with timely hitting in falling to Santa Clara, 4-2, to open a three-game series against the Broncos on Saturday, March 3.

Utah out-hit Santa Clara, 8-6, but left 10 runners stranded on base throughout the game.

Utah was led at the plate by Dominic Foscalina and Rykker Tom who each had two hits. Foscalina and Christopher Rowan, Jr., also drove in runs.

Kyle Robeniol pitched 6 1/3 innings in the loss, allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits with six strikeouts and no walks. Trenton Stoltz struck out three and allowed no hits over the final 1 2/3 innings.

Santa Clara got on the board quickly in the bottom of the first inning as a leadoff double led to a run after an error. The Broncos increased their lead to 2-0 after a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth, and a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth gave Santa Clara a 4-0 lead.

The Ute bats struggled to get going and Utah had just two hits through the first six innings before breaking through with four hits and two runs in the seventh, cutting the Santa Clara lead to 4-2. Tom led off the inning with a single and Shea Kramer also singled leading to RBI singles from Rowan and Foscalina. Oliver Dunn walked to load the bases with two outs before a fly out ended the inning.

Utah left a runner on base in the eighth and the Utes put two runners on in the ninth before Santa Clara got a strikeout to end the game.

Utah and Santa Clara play a doubleheader on Sunday, March 4, beginning at 12:00 p.m. PT, with game two beginning approximately 30 minutes after the end of the first game.