April 9, 2002

Moraga, CA - The Saint Mary's baseball team (12-16) scored three runs in the final inning to defeat the California Golden Bears, 6-5, on April 9, on Louis Gusto Field. SMC's Brian Vesce pinch-hit to record the game-winning RBI.

The Bears wasted no time getting on the board as Ben Conley, David Weiner and Conor Jackson began the inning with hits. Conley would score on Jackson's RBI single to put the Bears ahead 1-0.

In the top of the third the Bears would extend their lead after scoring a second run. It was Jackson again who recorded the RBI after he scoed Weiner who reached base on a walk and advanced to second on a Matt Dolen wild pitch. Cal then led 2-0 going into the bottom of the third.

The Gaels would cut Cal's lead in half thanks to third baseman Mark Teahen. With two outs Teahen jacked his fifth homerun on the season, bringing the score to 2-1.

In the bottom of the fifth the Gaels would add to their run total and take the lead. Mike Sansoe led off the inning and took first base after he was hit by a pitch. Mike Harris then followed with a double, scoring Sansoe and tying the score at two apiece. Brett Wayne then followed with a single, advancing Harris to third. Center fielder Jason Waugh then recorded his sole RBI of the evening with a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Harris and giving the Gaels a 3-2 advantage after five innings of play.

Cal would then retaliate in the top of the sixth with a run of their own. Jackson began the inning with a single to center and advanced to second after Conor White was hit by a pitch. Catcher John Baker then hit a single to load up the bases. David Nicholson then grounded into a double play, but fortunately for the Bears Jackson would score to tie the game at three.

After a scoreless sixth inning for the Gaels, Cal would tally two more runs in the seventh to take the lead. Justin Nelson began the inning with a walk and would later advance to third on a double by Conley. Weiner then sacrificed to left field, scoring Medrano who pinch-ran for Nelson. With Conley advancing to third on the play he would later score on a Jackson single to center, giving the Bears a 5-3 advantage.

After two more scoreless innings for the Gaels it looked as if it wasn't their day until Harris and Wayne recorded back-to-back walk's with one out. Waugh then hit an infield single to load the bases. Teahen then approached the plate and recorded the third walk of the inning, scoring Harris. Adam Thompson then ripped a shot to the third baseman in his first at-bat, which was to hard for Nicholson to make a play, scoring Wayne and tying the score at five. With one out, Vesce pinch hit for Adam Callan and recorded a game-winning single to right center to score Waugh and give the Gaels the win.

Receiving his first win of the season was Wayne who faced two batters in the top of the ninth. Blake Read received the loss for the Bears, bringing his season record to 1-1. Leading the way for the Bears was Jackson, who finished 4-for-4 with three RBI and one run.

The Gaels will return to action when they travel to Portland to play the Pilots in a in a three-game series beginning on Friday, April 12. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 pm.