April 6, 2008

Box Score - Game One

Box Score - Game Two

Moraga, CA - The Saint Mary's softball team was unable to overcome their sluggish bats, as Sacramento State swept the double header, 1-0 and 6-0. On the day the Gaels were held to eight total hits, while not recording any runs. Molly Bergeson and Lauren Clark were the only Gaels to post multiple hits, recording three and two respectively. With the loss Saint Mary's drops to 1-3 in the Pacific Coast Softball Conference and 14-18 overall.

The first game of the day proved to be a pitchers' dual, as both hurlers held their opponents to five hits, while the Hornets recorded a single run. No Gael was able to record more than one hit off Sacramento State's Kayla Meeks, as Russell, Galloway, Bergeson, Clark, and Aldridge each posted singles.

Galloway provided consistent pitching in the circle for Saint Mary's, allowing only one run in the complete game. The right hander did not give up a single hit until the fourth inning, when the Hornets strung together two singles, lighting up the scoreboard for the first time. In seven innings of work Galloway posted five strikeouts and did not allow anything more than a one-bagger.

The single run by the Hornets was enough to grasp the win, as Meeks finished the complete game with five strikeouts, earning the victory, 1-0.

Although the Gaels dropped the second match-up, 6-0, the score did not reflect the hard fought battle that occurred. Both teams were held scoreless through three innings of play, while combining for only two hits. Bergeson started in the circle for Saint Mary's, and did not give up a hit until the bottom of the fourth inning. With two outs and two runners on base, the Gaels' second baseman, Russell, made a diving play on a single down the right line and flipped it to the first baseman, but her efforts were unrewarded as the runner was called safe, bringing in the Hornets' first two runs. Later in the inning a single by Sacramento State's right fielder would score another Hornet run, while also forcing a Gael throwing error, to improve their lead to 4-0.

Saint Mary's was unable to find a solution for Sacramento State's pitcher, Brittani Clifford, earning the win with four innings pitched, while holding the Gaels to three hits, no runs, and recording two strikeouts.

Two more runs in the bottom of the fifth would seal the game for Sacramento State, defeating the Gaels 6-0 and improving to 3-1 in Pacific Coast Softball Conference action.

The Gaels return to Cottrell Field on Thursday, April 10, as they host Pac-10 member Oregon State in a double header at 2:00 PM.