Feb. 6, 2005

Box Score

San Diego, CA- Saint Mary's head softball coach Jessica Hanaseth earned her first career victory after the Gaels recorded a thrilling 6-4 win over UC Riverside in the 2005 Aztec Invitational. The Gaels tallied four runs in the top of the seventh to run away from the Highlanders.

With UCR holding onto a 3-2 lead entering the top of the seventh inning, SMC amassed four runs to take the lead, one they would not relinquish for their first win of the season. Junior shortstop Justin Larsen's first career homerun could not come at a more timely moment.

With sophomore centerfielder Lauren Mello and freshman Chelsea Loftis occupying the corners, Larsen connected on the Sara Radabaugh pitch, driving it over the left-centerfield wall for the game-winner.

Riverside would tack on one more run in the bottom of the seventh, but freshman hurler Kelly Harrison was able to close the door on the Highlanders chances and earn the victory.

SMC sophomore Lauren Gardner started the game, pitching four solid innings, allowing five hits and two earned runs while striking out one. The newcomer Harrison came in for three innings of work, allowing one earned run while striking out three.

Radabaugh went the distance for UCR, giving up nine hits and four earned while striking out three.

SMC senior second baseman Staci Hamaguchi scored two runs for the Gaels and finished the day batting 2-for-3 with a double. Larsen batted 1-for-3 with two runs scored and five other Gaels recorded hits on the day en route to the biggest offensive onslaught of the season.

Saint Mary's returns to action on Wednesday, February 16 when it travels to Berkeley for a doubleheader against No. 1-ranked Cal. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. from Levine-Fricke Field.