Softball Continues PCSC Play at Home
4/24/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 24, 2008
Gaels at a Glance: Last week the Gaels split their PCSC series with Portland State, posting a 7-5 conference record, good enough for second in the standings. The Gaels are tied with Portland State in the second place slot, and are just one game behind Loyola Marymount (8-4).
Saint Mary's received two outstanding outings from Maryanne Cronin in the circle last week, earning both the Gaels' wins and posting a 0.34 ERA. Cronin earned her first PCSC Pitcher of the Week for her performances. The freshman currently ranks first in PCSC play in ERA, tabbing a 0.72 mark. The right hander has also held her PCSC opponents to a .204 batting average, while pitching 29.1 innings.
Senior Megan Galloway had a stellar week at the plate, posting a .500 batting average. The senior recorded three runs, five hits, two doubles, two homeruns, and six RBI in five games, accumulating a 1.300 slugging percentage and .583 on base percentage. Galloway now ranks second on the team in homeruns and RBI with five and 17 respectively.
As a team Saint Mary's ranks 13 in the country in double plays turned, tabbing 18 twin killings this season. Last weekend the Gaels posted their first triple play, sitting down the Vikings in the bottom of the sixth, and eventually winning 1-0 after eight innings of play.
On the year Saint Mary's has compiled a 21-22 overall record and 7-5 PCSC mark, with eight more conference match-ups still to play. The Gaels are currently tied for second in the PCSC with Portland State, and are just one game behind Loyola Marymount (8-4).
Saint Mary's will return to action this weekend, as they host San Diego in double headers on both Saturday, April 26 and Sunday, April 27, with the first pitch scheduled for 12:00 PM.
Scouting the Toreros: San Diego has totaled a 16-32 overall record and 3-9 mark in the PCSC. As a team the Toreros have posted a .257 batting average, .330 on base percentage, and .352 slugging percentage. On the year they have totaled 163 runs, 326 hits, 50 doubles, five triples, 20 homeruns, and 149 RBI.
Individually the Toreros are led by Carey Casciola at the plate, tabbing a team-leading .342 batting average. Casciola has played and started in 46 games for San Diego, compiling 155 at bats, 28 runs, 53 hits, 10 doubles, three triples, and 18 RBI. The sophomore shortstop also leads the team in stolen bases the season, reaching safely on 5-of-8 attempt this season. The only other Torero to bat above .300 is Lindsey Fleet, tabbing a .338 mark. Fleet as seen action in all of San Diego's 48 games, totaling 145 at bats, 11 runs, 49 hits, 17 doubles, four homeruns, and 34 RBI.
In the circle the Toreros are led by Kristen Gensler with a team-high 3.05 ERA. Gensler has posted a 4-6 record thus far, while making 20 appearances, including eight starts and two complete games. The freshman has allowed 82 hits, 25 earned runs, while walking 17 and striking out 14 in 57.1 innings pitched. Jennifer Ellenback has spent the most time in the circle, totaling 156.2 innings pitched, while posting a 6-17 record. The sophomore has allowed for 178 hits, 76 earned runs, 59 walks, and 89 strikeouts.
Last season the Gaels clinched the series against the Toreros, posting a 3-1 record while playing in San Diego, CA. Saint Mary's split the first double-header, winning 5-4 and losing 4-2, but then came back on the second day to earn two victories, 5-0 and 5-4 (10).
One Two Punch: Senior slappers Molly Bergeson and Bronwyn Russell have found their niche at the plate this season, tabbing .366 and .328 batting averages respectively. Bergeson currently ranks fourth in the PCSC in batting average, while the two have combined for 53 runs, 92 hits, three doubles, eight triples, and 26 RBI. The pair has been successful on 32 of 38 stolen base attempts, as Russell and Bergeson have each posted 16 apiece, ranking first in the PCSC. With Russell leading off and Bergeson on deck, the Gaels have been very successful at getting on base, each posting .406 and .447 on base percentages respectively. Bergeson has added five of Saint Mary's triples, ranking first in PCSC and 11 in the NCAA Div. I.
Bombs Away: Sophomore Jenna Smith has taken a liking to the long ball this season, recording 11 homeruns. The catcher did not record a homerun in her first year as a Gael, but has ignited this season at the plate. Smith tabbed her first whammy in the bottom of the third against Youngstown State on February 28, and went on to hit another in the bottom of the sixth, helping the Gaels to a 6-1 win. With 11 bombs this season the sophomore has clinched the Saint Mary's single season record, and needs seven more to tie the career record of 18, held by Claudia Williams (2002-2005).
With her 11 round trippers (0.26 per game) the sophomore currently ranks first in the PCSC and 27th in the NCAA in homeruns per game.
Two Birds, One Stone: Saint Mary's softball currently ranks 13th in the NCAA Div. I in double plays turned per game. This season the Gaels have turned two 18 times, averaging 0.42 twin killings per game. The 4-6-3 play has been perfected by Eastern Kentucky this season, topping the list with 0.60 per game.
Cronin Garners First PCSC Award (4/22/08): Freshman pitcher Maryanne Cronin was awarded with her first Pacific Coast Softball Conference honor, as she was named the PCSC Co-Pitcher of the Week for April 14.
The La Palma, CA native put together impressive performances in the circle, pitching 20.2 innings while only allowing one run. The freshman made four appearances, including two starts, two complete games, and one shutout, posting a 0.34 ERA, while holding Portland State to 14 hits and one run. In the series against the Vikings the right hander subdued her opponents' bats, holding Portland State to a .189 batting average. Cronin earned both of the Gaels' wins on the week, improving her record to 7-5 on the season.
Galloway Repeats Pitching Honor (5/15/08): Saint Mary's pitcher Megan Galloway was named the Pacific Coast Softball Conference Pitcher of the Week for the second time this season. The right hander posted a 3-0 record over the week, including the Gaels' first win over Oregon State since 1989. Galloway earned the award earlier this season, for the week of March 24, and shares the honor this week with Loyola Marymount's Tiffany Pagano.
Galloway was close to perfect throughout her four appearances last week, starting and throwing a complete game in three of her four showings. The senior threw 21.0 innings, holding her opponents to 11 hits and one run, while striking out 11. Galloway threw two shutouts against PCSC Bay Area rival, Santa Clara, helping the Gaels to a series sweep over the Broncos. On the week Galloway posted an impressive 0.33 ERA, while improving to 10-9 on the season.
Galloway Earns PCSC Pitcher of the Week (3/24/08): Senior pitcher, Megan Galloway, was named the Pacific Coast Softball Conference Pitcher of the Week, as she compiled impressive performances throughout the Gaels' competitions in the Bank of Hawaii Invitational. The award was a first for the senior.
Galloway had a stellar week for the Gaels in the circle, recording a 2-2 record, with both wins coming against No. 17 Hawaii. For the week Galloway posted 1.52 ERA, while appearing in four games with three starts for the Gaels. The senior held her opponents 20 hits and five earned runs in 23 innings pitched, while striking out 12 batters.
In the Gaels' first game against the Wahine, Galloway pitched a complete game, holding Hawaii's batters to four hits and no earned runs. The senior struck out an impressive seven batters in the game, earning her fifth win of the season.
Saint Mary's rode the arm of Galloway in their second game against No. 17 Hawaii, as the senior entered the game in the third inning, pitching the remaining seven innings as the Gaels earned a 4-2 win in extras. The hurler proved to cause problems for the Wahine, holding Hawaii to only two hits and no earned runs in seven innings of action. With a 4-2 lead in hand in the bottom of the ninth, Galloway held off Hawaii, forcing three straight outs to earn her sixth win of the year.
The two wins against No. 17 Hawaii marked Galloway's first wins against a ranked opponent.
Jenna Smith Earns PCSC Player of the Week (3/3/08): Sophomore catcher/designated player, Jenna Smith, earned her first Pacific Coast Softball Conference player of the week, following the Gaels' 3-1 record against Youngstown State and CS Northridge. Smith recorded the first homerun of her career against Youngstown State, on Thursday, March 28, and then proceeded to hit two more homeruns against the Penguins and one against CS Northridge. In four games of action, Smith posted four runs, five hits, and seven RBI, while compiling four home runs on the week. Smith posted an impressive .417 batting average, 1.417 slugging percentage, and .462 on base percentage.
Smith's bat proved clutch for the Gaels in two match-ups over the weekend, as her third homerun against the Penguins was a three-run, walk-off slammer, defeating Youngstown State 6-3 in the second game of the double header. Against CS Northridge the sophomore recorded her second key homerun of the week, as it brought in two runs and tied the game at two apiece in the top of the sixth inning.
Hanaseth's Crew: Jessica Hanaseth enters her fourth season as the head coach for the Saint Mary's softball team. Hanaseth took over the position after being a part of the program as an assistant coach and player for seven seasons. Last season Hannaseth guided the Gaels to a third place Pacific Coast Softball League finish, as Saint Mary's finished the season with a 24-36 overall record and 9-11 record in the PCSC.
Throughout Coach Hanaseth's tenure at Saint Mary's many of her athletes have received recognition by the PCSC. Following her first season as head coach of the Gaels Hanaseth led freshman Bronwynn Russle to PCSC Freshman of the Year, while Russle and Eleni Papailias were selected to the PCSC First Team. In total Hanseth's players have garnered 10 PCSC accolades over the past three years.
Before being named the Saint Mary's softball head coach Hanaseth served as an assistant coach for the Gaels for three years with her duties varying in all aspects of the game. Hanaseth worked with infielders, outfielders and hitters in her three years as an assistant and was in charge of recruiting and community service. With her help, the Gaels participated in the Walk for Breast Cancer in Golden Gate Park and fed the homeless at Glide Memorial Church in San Francisco.
Hanaseth, a 2001 graduate of SMC with a degree in Health Physical Education and Recreation with a teaching emphasis, finished her playing career second in RBI (84), third in doubles (19), and eighth with a .284 career batting average. Her senior year proved to be one of her best as she finished the campaign seventh in the SMC record books with a .979 fielding percentage and hits (56).
SB | Odhi Vasquez and Hannah Ferguson Highlights vs. Pacific, 3-27-26
Monday, March 30
SB | Saint Mary's vs. Pacific Highlights, 3-29-26
Sunday, March 29
SB | Saint Mary's vs. Pacific Highlights, 3-28-26
Saturday, March 28
SB | Saint Mary's vs. Pacific Highlights, 3-27-26
Friday, March 27
