MORAGA, Calif. — The Gaels head north this week for their first four-game road trip of the season against the Oregon Ducks following a red-hot opening weekend.

SCHEDULE
Game #5
Saint Mary's (4-0) at Oregon (1-2)
Friday, February 22, 3 p.m.
Eugene, Ore. –– PK Park
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Game #6
Saint Mary's at Oregon
Saturday, February 23, 1 p.m.
Eugene, Ore. –– PK Park
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Game #7
Saint Mary's at Oregon
Saturday, February 23, 4 p.m.
Eugene, Ore. –– PK Park
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Game #8
Saint Mary's at Oregon
Sunday, February 24, 12 p.m.
Eugene, Ore. –– PK Park
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PROBABLE STARTERS
Game 1: Ken Waldichuk (1-0, 0.0 ERA 0.29 WHIP, 7.0 IP, 1H, 1BB, 6Ks )
Game 2: Kevin Milam (1-0, 9.00 ERA, 1.60 WHIP, 5.0 IP, 6H, 2BB, 6Ks)
Game 3: Carlos Lomeli (1-0, 3.00 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, 6.0 IP, 3H, 2BB, 4Ks)
Game 4: Tyler Thornton (1-0, 1.69 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 5.1 IP, 2H, 3BB, 7Ks)

SCOUTING REPORT
Saint Mary's dominated opening weekend with the 4-0 sweep of the Cougars, their first four-game sweep of a Pac-12 team in program history. After 2019's first weekend, the Gaels are ranked No. 5 in the nation in team batting average (.373), fifth in total hits (50), eighth in on-base percentage (.469), and 28th in scoring (9.3 runs per game). In their first four-game series, the Gaels outscored WSU 37 runs to 13, and outhit their opponent 50 to 20.

Saint Mary's currently has six players batting over .300: Kevin Milam (.643), Joe Vranesh (.571), Ryan Novis (.571), Austin Chauvin (.400), Matt Green (.375), and Conor Thane (.308). Kevin Milam's nine hits in his first four games are ranked seventh in the nation (first in WCC) and his three doubles are ranked 15th (second in the WCC). Conor Thane and Joe Vranesh each scored seven runs (18th in the nation, first in the WCC), Vranesh's eight RBI are ranked 20th (first in the WCC).

The Gaels also swept the WCC Weekly Awards for the first week of play after Ken Waldichuk was named Pitcher of the Week and Kevin Milam was named Player of the Week. Waldichuk pitched seven innings in the season opener, gave up no earned runs, one hit, and struck out six batters. When he exited the game, he had retired 16 batters in a row. Kevin Milam recorded a .643 batting average through the first series, collected five RBI, one homerun, three doubles, and six runs. He posted a remarkable, 1.071 slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .737. Joe Vranesh was another Gael who ended the weekend with impressive numbers (.571 BA, eight RBI, two 2B, one 3B, seven R) and hit the go-ahead, three-run double during Saturday's game.

OREGON
The Ducks opened their season against No. 8 Texas Tech and won one of the three games before the final game was cancelled, to begin the season at 1-2. Oregon won the season opener 9-4 against the Red Raiders, before dropping the next game 12-11 and the final game 6-4. The team is hitting .372 through their first series and have a total of 42 hits. Freshman Aaron Zavala leads the team with a batting average of .462, and has collected six hits, an RBI, with a slugging percentage of .615.

Top-closer for the Ducks Ryne Nelson has been receiving high regards early in the season, including being recognized in a number of preseason considerations. Nelson was recently named to the preseason watch list for the Stopper of the Year Award, an accolade given to the top relief pitcher in NCAA Division I baseball by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA). He was also named third-team preseason All-American by Baseball America in a vote made by MLB scouting directors. The junior had a rough opening however as he collected seven earned runs off of seven hits in his 4.1 innings pitched so far this season during Saturday's game against Texas Tech.

The NCBWA also recognized sophomore Kenyon Yovan as a third-team All-American at the utility position ahead of the season opener. As a pitcher, Yovan ended the 2018 season with a record of 6-4 and a 2.98 ERA, five saves, and 98 strikeouts in 84.2 innings, while allowing opponents to hit just .204. Yovan also recorded a .233 batting average, three home runs, and 12 RBI. He recorded seven doubles and a .371 slugging percentage while starting 33 games at designated hitter.


#GaelsRise – For ticket information to all home baseball games, call the SMC Ticket Office today at 925-631-4689 or click the ticket link here to purchase your seats now.