SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Senior Drake Bicknell belted a three-run home run that proved to be the difference, giving the Pacific baseball program a series-opening 5-4 victory over Santa Clara Friday night at Stephen Schott Stadium.

The Tigers (17-25, 5-8 WCC) won their third straight contest going back to last Friday, utilizing timely hitting and a strong bullpen performance to keep the Broncos (15-22, 4-9 WCC) at bay in game one of the three-game series.

Bicknell went 2-for-3 with two runs and the towering three-run home run in the top of the fourth inning that ultimately gave Pacific enough fire power offensively for the night. For Bicknell, it was his third home run of the season and fourth three-RBI performance of April.

Sophomore Regan Carter made his eighth start of the season, going 3.0 innings with a pair of strikeouts. The Tigers utilized three more arms in relief with freshman Justin Iglesias earning his second win of the season. Senior Ethan Shaver picked up his third save on the year in a 1-2-3 ninth inning.

Santa Clara struck first in the bottom of the second before the Tigers tacked on five runs with two in the third and three in the fourth, courtesy of Bicknell's three-run jack to left center.

The Broncos got a late run in the bottom of the eighth inning on a solo home run, but Shaver did not allow any more Broncos to score, shutting the door in the final frame to secure the 5-4 victory.

Pacific and Santa Clara will return to action for game two tomorrow with a 1 p.m. PDT start from Stephen Schott Stadium.

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