Gaels Drop Final Game Of UC Riverside Tournament

Sunday, February 12

Riverside, CA

12:00 PM

Saint Mary's College of California

%at UC Riverside

Gaels Drop Final Game Of UC Riverside Tournament

2/12/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Feb. 12, 2006

Box Score

Riverside, CA- The Saint Mary's softball team lost its final game of the 2006 UC Riverside tournament on Sunday afternoon from Amy S. Harrison Field. The Gaels dropped a heartbreaker to host UC Riverside by the score of 9-8. The Highlanders' Melissa Sanchez hit a grand slam in the bottom of the sixth to finish the game.

Tied 4-4 going into the fifth the Gaels erupted with four runs to take an 8-4 lead. Lauren Mello, Sandra Ruezga and Marcia-Marie Euker all singled in the inning. Eleni Papailias drew a bases loaded walk which scored Mello. Freshman, Kayla Aldridge also scored on a bases loaded walk by Bronwyn Russell. Papailias and Ruezga both scored on a single by Euker.

Kate Albaugh took the loss for the Gaels, pitching two innings of relief and giving up five runs on six hits. Megan Galloway who started the game threw 2.1 innings of two hit softball, allowing three earned runs. Lauren Gardner also pitched 2.2 innings of relief allowing one run on just two hits.

Offensively, the Gaels were led by Euker who went 3-for-3 with two singles, a double and five RBI. Russell (1-for-2), Lauren Clark (1-for-4), Mello (1-for-4), Ruezga (1-for-2) tallied the other hits for Saint Mary's.

The Highlanders third baseman, Sanchez led the way going 2-for-3 with a grand slam. Kristie Martinez also went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Stephanie Marshall earned the win for Riverside throwing 2.1 innings of relief, allowing just one run and striking out four. Christin Songer started for the Highlanders, throwing 4.2 innings and giving up eight runs on six hits.

Saint Mary's returns to action Tuesday, February 14 when they travel to UC Davis to take on the Aggies. The first pitch is slated for 1 pm at LaRue Field.