April 11, 2003
Final Stats
Moraga, CA - The Saint Mary's baseball team scored five and eight runs in the seventh and eighth inning, respectively, to down the Portland Pilots, 13-4. With the win the Gaels improve to 14-19/5-8 WCC, while the Pilots fall to 8-25/4-9 WCC.
The Pilots wasted no time scoring two runs in the top of the first inning to take a 2-0 lead. Travis Vetters hit a double to score the games first run, scoring Gus Little. Nik Kosach later hit a single to center field to score Kory Casto.
Portland extended its lead in the fourth inning with two more runs. Tyler Perkins hit a two-out bases loaded single to score two runners and give the Pilots a 4-0 advantage.
In the seventh, the Gaels exploded for five runs to take the lead and eventually the win. PU's starter, Stephen Ball, started to get in trouble after a wonderful start. Both Nick Conte and Jeff Cunningham reached base safely before Trent Kristjanson came in for relief. Kristjanson walked Preston Young to load the bases, while Mike Harris followed with a sacrifice fly, scoring Conte. Mike Sansoe then walked to load the bases again. Gilbert Gil followed with a bases clearing triple to tie the score at 4-4. Delaney Gallagher would give the Gaels the go-ahead run with a double to right field.
In the eighth inning the Gaels would add eight insurance runs as hitting was contagious. Tim Spooner and Harris collected singles, while Nick Conte collected two hits in the inning and Gallagher collected his first triple of the season.
Conte finished the game 3-for-5 with two RBI and three runs, improving his season batting average to .375. Spooner also finished with three hits, while Gallagher was 2-for-4 at the plate with three RBI.
Winning pitcher for the Gaels was Eric Bowden, who tallied his third complete game of the season, his record moves to 5-4 on the season. Losing pitcher for the Pilots was Kristjanson, who falls to 1-5.
These two teams will meet again, tomorrow, April 12 for game two of the three-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 PM on Louis Guisto Field.
