Feb. 21, 2006
Box Score
Moraga, CA- After dropping three games in a row, the Saint Mary's baseball team was in need of a lift. Senior pitchers Corey Madden and Dan Lewis provided just that as the two combined to shutdown the San Jose State Spartans 5-2 Tuesday afternoon from Louis Guisto Field. With the win, the Gaels improve to 5-4 on the season while the Spartans drop to 7-4.
"I told our players that we have been playing great baseball and hitting the ball hard," head coach Jedd Soto said. "We just need to keep doing what we have been doing. We're excited to go into this weekend and carry this momentum with a win over a quality San Jose State squad."
Madden and Lewis combined to give up one earned run on seven hits with six strikeouts on the afternoon. Lewis earned his second win on the season with a three-inning relief appearance. The senior allowed two hits and struck out five. Madden scattered five hits and allowed one run while striking out one in six innings of work.
"Corey Madden is a weekend starter for us and today he happened to get his opportunity. He was very effective with his fastball and located his slider well," Soto said. "Dan Lewis pitched as well as I've ever seen him in a Gael uniform. His fastball was sharp on the outer-part of the plate and his curveball was superb today."
With the score tied one apiece in the bottom of the seventh, the Gaels pulled away, adding two runs in consecutive innings. Freshman Joel Staples got things going with a triple to right center. Catcher Ian Gordon then singled to left field to bring in Staples. After Adam Hicks got drilled by a Matt Winck pitch, junior Eric Cattoni capped off the inning with a single to right field that scored Gordon from second.
In the eighth, the Gaels tacked on two more. Senior Delaney Gallagher singled and then advanced on a wild pitch. Mike Harris then brought in Gallagher from second on a single to center field. Gordon then capped off his big day with a hard-hit double to the left-centerfield gap that scored Harris.
Saint Mary's got on the board in the second inning when Staples delivered with a two-out single to center field that scored Harris from second. Harris reached on an error and then stole second to put himself in scoring position.
The Spartans evened the score at one in the top of the sixth. David Pierson connected on a two-out double to right-center to bring in Greg Fyfe, who pinch ran for Brody Massman after a double to right center.
SJSU would make some noise in the ninth, loading the bases with no outs. But the Gaels would weather the storm, allowing just one run on a Brian Chase groundout to third that scored Chris Balatico.
The Gaels were led offensively by Gordon and Staples. Gordon finished the day 2-for-3 from the plate with two RBIs and a run scored. Staples added a 3-for-4 performance from the plate with an RBI and run scored.
Ricky Sauceda and Pierson both batted 2-for-4 for the Spartans, with Pierson adding an RBI.
Saint Mary's will return to action when it hits the road for the Third Annual River City Classic. The Gaels will open their tournament play on Friday, February 24 against the North Dakota Bison with first-pitch slated for 10 a.m.
