SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Gonzaga and Santa Clara's starting arms largely neutralized both teams' bats for much of the game, but GU's Andrew Orzel took control late. The grad transfer drove in a run in the sixth and doubled up with a homer in the ninth to lift the Zags to a 2-0 win over the Broncos to open the West Coast Conference pennant race. 
 
Orzel, Guthrie Morrison and Tyler Rando finished with one hit apiece, but a shutdown performance from two of GU's most experienced pitchers ensured that would be enough for a win in the first of three games with the Broncos (6-10).
 
Starter Gabriel Hughes kept an SCU team that has hit a combined 15 homers this season off the board in seven innings of work, throwing 12 K's while walking one to earn the win. With the lead in hand after the seventh, RHP Alek Jacob threw two hitless innings and three strikeouts of his own in two frames of relief to complete the Zags' second shutout of the season in equally clean fashion.
 
"A great win to start conference play," said Head Coach Mark Machtolf. "Nice to see Hughes with a big outing, and AJ to come in and slam the door. Ready to get back on the diamond tomorrow."
 
SCU starter Russell Grant II only gave up two hits in six innings, striking out six, but Morrison and Brett Harris reached second and third in his final frame of work before Orzel flew out to send Morrison home and put GU on the board.
 
Orzel's ninth-inning slam — his first of the season — added one more run to the total, but the Zags would not end up needing it after Jacob retired three batters consecutively to close the game and preserve the shutout. 
 
Inside the Series
 
With the win, GU moves to 47-28 against SCU all time, with a 1-0 lead in this season's conference series. The two teams did not meet during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season but last played in 2019, a conference series the Zags won 2-1.
 
Next Up
 
The Zags resume the series with Santa Clara tomorrow with a chance to clinch its fifth consecutive series win over the Broncos. RHP Alec Gomez (2-0, 15 IP, 9 K, 4.80 ERA) is the Zags' probable starter for game two, set to face off with SCU RHP Freddie Erlandson (0-2, 15.0 IP, 14K, 2.40 ERA)
 
Follow the Game
 
Saturday's game is set to start at 1 p.m., with live streaming available via the WCC Network. Check GoZags.com for up-to-date game information and live stats.