April 13, 2008

Box Score - Game One

Box Score - Game Two

SANTA CLARA, CA - Saint Mary's (19-19, 5-3 PCSC) swept their second straight double header to Santa Clara (7-38, 3-5 PCSC), winning 4-0 in the first game and 4-1 in the second. Sandra Ruezga led the Gaels offensively on the day, posting a .667 batting average and .833 slugging percentage, with one run, four hits, and two RBI.

Senior right hander, Megan Galloway, had another stunning game for the Gaels in the circle, as she earned the first win of the double header and improved to 10-9 on the season. Galloway kept the Bronco bats in check throughout her 4-0 complete game shutout, holding Santa Clara to just three hits.

Molly Bergeson was the second Gael pitcher to put in some good work, as she went six innings to help Saint Mary's to a 4-1 win. The senior also kept Santa Clara to three hits, while giving up a single-run homerun in the top of the second. In six innings of work Bergeson did not walk a single batter, while striking out two. Freshman Maryanne Cronin came in to pitch the final inning for the Gaels, holding the Broncos scoreless and earning the first save of her career.

Saint Mary's took advantage of Santa Clara's mistakes early in the first inning of the day, as a Bronco error and a Bergeson bunt hit brought up Jenna Smith, who torched them with two homeruns the day before. The Broncos decided to intentionally walk her, which loaded the bases with no outs. Santa Clara's pitcher, Rauschnot, walked the next batter to bring in a run, but got two quick outs on grounders to save more runs from scoring. A Chelsea Loftis single up the middle scored one more in the inning for Saint Mary's, as she brought home fellow senior, Megan Galloway. A final ground out by the Gaels would finish the inning, but the damage was done as they took a 2-0 lead over their Bay Area rival.

The Gaels' final runs of the game were scored in the bottom of the sixth, as the Broncos committed untimely back-to-back errors. With Dolcini and Ruezga on base, the Broncos missed an out opportunity on an error by their shortstop, and with the bases loaded another Santa Clara error scored two Gael runs, winning the first 4-0.

In the second game of the day Saint Mary's started right where they left off, totaling 12 hits and four runs. Bergeson led the way with three hits and one run, while Russell, Delpit, and Ruezga each chipped in two hits apiece. Although the Broncos kept down their errors in the second game, the Gaels still found a way to score as all of their runs were earned. Ruezga totaled two RBI in the game for Saint Mary's, capitalizing on a double to left center in the third to bring home Lauren Clark, and single down the left line in the fifth to score Loftis. The Gaels finished with a 4-1 victory, their only win over the Broncos that was not a shutout.

Saint Mary's will continue PCSC action after hosting California at home on Wednesday, April 16 at 3:00 PM. Their next PCSC match-up will take place in Portland, OR on April 19 and 20, facing Portland State in a four-game series.