For first-year head coach Pat Bloom and the Washington University baseball team, the start of the 2016 season offered the hope of a new spring. Unfortunately for Bloom, his debut did not go according to plan, as the Bears lost both games of their season-opening doubleheader to Hendrix College by the scores of 2-1 and 6-4 Saturday at Warrior Field in Conway, Ark.

The Red and Green enter the year at a crossroads, aiming to improve upon last season’s 34-16 record which earned them a share of the University Athletic Association (UAA) Championship, while also clearly heading in a new direction amid the loss of 10 2015 seniors and the introduction of Bloom. Senior outfielder and captain Max Golembo, a key contributor to the last three Bears teams, each of which posted a winning percentage of at least .625, recognizes that this year poses a unique challenge, but remains optimistic despite roster turnover.

Then senior Max Zhang pitches against University of Chicago last April. This weekend, the baseball team opened their season with a series against Hendrix, bringing their record to 1-2.

“The makeup of our team is completely different this year. We have a lot of guys that are going to need to contribute to win baseball games,” Golembo said. “Our veteran guys have done a great job of leading by example on and off the field and helping to mentor our younger guys. As a result, we have a lot of guys that will do whatever it takes to win and we’re going to continue with that attitude.”

Opening the season against a Hendrix team that entered the weekend 0-4, the Bears had an opportunity to capitalize against an already skidding opponent. After junior shortstop Austin Darmawan was hit by a pitch in the first plate appearance of the game, he quickly stole second and moved to third on a Golembo groundout. Junior first baseman Ben Browdy then reached on an error to knock in Darmawan and give the Bears an early lead.

Things were going smoothly for Wash. U. as junior starting pitcher Scott Nelson, a 2015 second-team all-UAA honoree, held Hendrix scoreless through five innings before getting two quick outs to start the sixth. After a seemingly harmless two-out walk, the momentum swung in Hendrix’s favor as Nelson gave up three consecutive singles and two runs. The Bears managed to nab a runner at third to end the inning, but not before the damage was done. The punchless Bears were held to three hits all afternoon and were unable to advance a runner past first after the first inning. Bloom stuck to his decision to leave Nelson in the game.

“It’s the early part of the year, and we knew that he was starting to tire, but at the same time, he’d gotten two quick outs. He threw a pretty good pitch with two strikes that we thought was strike three, and just didn’t get the call,” Bloom said. “We’ve got to find a way to finish that inning, and we just missed a few spots and left the ball over the plate, and they took advantage. But I thought that overall he did a good job and put us in a position to win, and we just have to continue to make plays behind him. He’s not a strikeout pitcher; he’s going to hit spots, and we’ve got to make plays behind him and give him an opportunity to get out of innings without having to linger out there too much longer than he has to.”

Then-senior Zack Kessinger bats in the Bears’ loss against University of Chicago last April. This weekend, the baseball team opened their season with a series against Hendrix, bringing their record to 1-2.

A bright spot for the Bears’ pitching staff came in the second game, after a five-run first inning limited junior starting pitcher Brad Margolin to just three innings. Freshman relief pitcher Zack Kotin allowed just one run, striking out six over the next four innings to keep the game in reach. Though the Bears still lost, Bloom left open the possibility of Kotin earning extended looks in the near future.

“I think our pitching situation, in terms of the depth and rotation of our relievers, is still very much in flux, but Zack definitely did well for himself today, in terms of the way he threw the baseball and the confidence and poise he showed out on the mound,” Bloom said. “So if he continues to throw the ball like that, there’ll be a lot of opportunities for him in the future.”

Notably, Golembo, a .393 hitter in 2015, had an uncharacteristically rough day at the plate, going hitless in nine at-bats on Saturday.

“I just have to get back to staying within myself and trusting my approach and preparation,” Galembo said. “It’s a long season. I’m confident we will bounce back.”

Golembo also added that getting back on track would help propel the dynamic between the lineup’s top three hitters: Darwaman, Golembo and junior first basemen Ben Browdy.

“Browdy is definitely swinging a hot bat and is seeing the ball really well,” Golembo said. “He has been locked in all preseason and that showed today. As the top two guys in the order, our job is to get on for the middle of the lineup. If we do that, we’re going to produce a lot more runs and put pressure on the defense early.”

That dynamic was in full effect early on Sunday. After Darmawan led off the game with a single, Golembo was hit by a pitch. The two executed a double steal to set up Browdy’s two-run double. Just like that, the offense, that looked so anemic Saturday afternoon, arrived. Darmawan’s steal was his third in as many games, Golembo picked up his first two hits of the year to break an 0-for-11 slump and Browdy pushed his RBI total to seven, providing the blueprint for Wash. U.’s offensive attack. With the help of six Hendrix errors, the Bears continued to pour on the runs and secured their first victory of the season, 9-1. Senior starting pitcher Julian Clarke got the win by tossing six innings of one-run ball.

The Bears return to action with their home-opening doubleheader on Saturday against Greenville.