Baseball Drops Two Against the Gauchos

Moraga, CA – Saint Mary's (10-6) came into Saturday's games playing excellent defense all season long, not beating themselves. On Saturday afternoon they would battle hard but could not overcome costly mistakes that would help UC Santa Barbara (11-4) take both games of the double header 9-2 in game one and 7-5 in game two at Louis Guisto Field.

Just like yesterday UCSB would jump out to the early lead on the Gaels, as center fielder Brian Gump led things off with a single to centerfield. Gump would steal second base for his ninth of the season, and come around to score on the single up the middle from first baseman Eric Oliver. But Saint Mary's starter Scott Schneider (2-1) would buckle down, getting a groundball out, and striking out two to end the first.

Taking the mound for the Gauchos was RHP Joe Gardner (2-0), who worked a quick first inning, getting Cory Miller looking, a single from Ryan Mulligan would be all for not as he was caught stealing, and Troy Channing would ground out to the second baseman for an unorthodox 1-2-3 inning.

UC Santa Barbara would add another run in the top of the third when Gump would reach safely on an error from the second baseman, he would move over to second on a single from Cavan, and to third on a sac bunt from Eric Oliver. Gump would come into score off a ground ball to short, 2-0 Gauchos. A single from Cummings would score Valaika, and another error this time from the shortstop would score Cummings to make it 4-0 Gauchos.

The Gaels would get to Gardner in the bottom of the sixth when Mulligan collected his second hit of the day, a huge double off the right-center field fence that was just a few feet short of getting out for a homerun. Troy Channing would knock Mulligan in with a Texas-leaguer to shallow left field, 4-1 Gauchos.

Mark Anderson would come into pitch for the Gaels in the top of the seventh; Schneider for the day went six complete, surrendering seven hits, four runs, one earned, with one walk and eight strike outs. UCSB would break it open with a three run triple from Valaika and a two-run homerun from Cummings, 8-1.

Gardner would come into the game for his ninth inning of work, but a hit batter and a walk to pinch hitter Markus Melgosa would end his day. For the afternoon he would go eight complete, scattering seven hits, two runs, one earned, three walks and three strike outs.

Taking the ball for the Gaels in game two is very promising Kyle Barraclough, who is making his debut at Louis Guisto Field. In the first inning he struck out two and got a can of corn fly ball to cruise through the first inning.

It would be the Gaels who would jump out to the early lead, as Mulligan would double down the right field line, move over to third on the sac fly from Channing. Fazio would crush a double to deep left field to score Mulligan, 1-0 Gaels.

Taking the mound for the Gauchos was RHP Jesse Meaux (2-0), who fell behind the Gaels in the first, allowing the run to come in, and in the second he moved through the order with just a stand- up double to catcher Toby DeMello. Meaux would go on to earn the win pitching five complete surrendering eight hits, five runs, three earned, two walks and one strike out.

In the bottom of the third the Gaels would retake the lead, when Miller would knock a single up the middle, he'd move to second on his fourth stolen base of the year. Troy Channing would knock Miller in for his 20th RBI of the season, 2-1 Saint Mary's.

The Gauchos would strike back with Robby Cummings' third homerun of the series, and opposite field shot over the right field wall, scoring Carlson, putting UCSB up 3-2. DeMello would throw out Terhune on a stolen base attempt for the second out of the inning. A two-out double from Gump would bring in two more runs, making it 5-2 for the Gauchos.

SMC would chip away at that lead when Mulligan would rope a single into left center that would score Murphy and move Alcaire to third. Troy Channing would once again come up with a big hit for the Gaels, hitting a double down the left field line, scoring Alcaire for his 21st RBI of the season, making the score 5-4 UCSB.

Kyle Jensen would get things started for Saint Mary's in the bottom of the fifth with a leadoff double down the left field line. Aliotti would successfully move Jensen over with a sacrifice bunt and Murphy would bring in Jensen to tie the game at five.

Barraclough would come out to start the top of the sixth and would strike out Cummings for his seventh strike out of the afternoon, but a single to Terhune. A wild pitch and a single from Trafelski would bring in the go-ahead run for the Gauchos and end Barraclough's day.

For the day Barraclough went 5.1 innings, surrendering nine hits, six runs, five earned three walks and the seven strike outs. Brandon Berl would come in for the Gaels, and get Gump to line out to second to end the inning 6-5 Gauchos.

David Meals would pitch the final 3.1 innings to earn his second save of the season, giving up no hits, no runs, two walks and striking out four to close out the game. In the top of the ninth he got Channing to strike out, Fazio to ground out and Jensen to ground out.

The Gaels and the Gauchos will resume their four game series tomorrow at 1:00 PM at Louis Guisto Field. The Gaels will send out either Anthony Aliotti or Taylor Reid as Saint Mary's tries to salvage the series split.

Schedule

GAELS IN THE PROS

CHAMPIONS

HALL OF FAME

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