EUGENE, Ore. – Saint Mary's pitchers combined for 23 strikeouts in Saturday's doubleheader, but the Gaels were ultimately unable to find a win in games two and three against Oregon.
 
GAME ONE
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 

• Kevin Milam got the offense started for the Gaels with a line drive straight up the middle to center field, but a number of pop-ups left him stranded in the top of the first. The Ducks offense took off in the bottom of the second inning as the two lead-off batters made it to base before a successful bunt advanced the runners to second and third. A single to right field scored both runners and gave Oregon a 2-0 lead.

• The Ducks put runners on first and second to start the bottom of the third followed by a base hit to left field that scored Oregon's third run of the day. With runners on first and second, Milam struck out his fourth batter of the game to end the third inning. In the top of the fifth, JC Santini reached on a fielding error before Conor Thane was walked. Shortly after, Joe Vranesh hit a single to left center that scored Santini from second and advanced Thane to third and brought the score to 3-1.  
   
• After Milam put runners on first and second, Ryan Daughtery took over in the bottom of the fifth inning. A deep sac-fly to right field caught by Andrew Shebloski advanced the lead runner to third base with two outs. The Ducks then hit a two-out single up the middle that scored the runner on third and was followed up by a wild pitch that advanced the runners to second and third. Nathan Schneider then came in for relief and struck out the batter to end the inning with the Ducks on top 4-1.
   
• Gio Diaz hit a single to right field to begin the top of the sixth which was followed by a walk of Sheblowski, but the runners were eventually left on base. The Duck bats continue to give the Gaels trouble in the bottom of the inning as they had runners at third and second with one out. Another sac-fly scored the runner from third and gave Oregon the 5-1 advantage over the Gaels.

• The lead-off batter in the bottom of the eighth hit a solo homerun to left field to extend the Ducks' lead to five runs. Shebloski doubled down the left field line to begin the top of the ninth followed by a long double to right center by Matt Green that gave the Gaels their second run of the day. With one out and runners at the corners, the Gaels were unable to capitalize on the situation and Oregon won game two of the series 6-2.

 
GAME TWO
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 

• The Gaels got the offense going early in game two, driving in their first run in the top of the second. The run came courtesy of Santini who laced a two-out, RBI double to left center.

• Saint Mary's continued to put runners on board as the Gaels loaded the bases with two outs. This time, it was Thane who delivered the damage with a single into center field that drove in both Green and Austin Chauvin.

• SMC entered the bottom of the fourth with a 3-0 lead, but the Ducks managed to respond with their first run of the game. Oregon's run also came with two outs, making the first four runs of the game all coming with two outs.  
   
• The Ducks' offense was not finished as they scored four more in the bottom of the fifth. With two runners on and one out, Matthews hit a homerun to right field which was nearly robbed by Green, but the ball bounced out of his glove and over the fence. Then, with the bases loaded, Oregon pushed one more across with an RBI groundout which came after the Gaels nearly turned a double play to end the inning.
   
• SMC looked to respond in the next half inning, loading the bases on an error and a pair of walks. However, with two outs, Thane struck out looking to end the inning.

• In the top of the eighth, Green led off the inning and reached base with a hit-by-pitch. He made his way to third base with no outs and Santini walked to put runners on first and third. Charles Zaloumis then headed to plate for a pinch-hit appearance and hit into a double play, allowing Green to score and bringing Saint Mary's within one run (5-4). However, unable to score in the ninth, SMC dropped game three by the score of 5-4.    

QUOTABLE

"I like the fight in our guys, but we need to continue to improve and find ways to win games like these," said head coach Eric Valenzuela. "Hopefully we learn from these losses and grow as a team."

NOTABLE NUMBERS

• 23: Number of strikeouts from Gaels pitchers in the doubleheader
• 3: Three hits from Thane on the day including a pair of RBI in game two
• 4: Amount of times Santini reached base in the second game (1-for-1 with three walks)
• 6: Number of innings where the Gaels put runners in scoring position in game two

COMING UP

• The final game of the series between the Duck and the Gaels will be played on Sunday at 12:00 p.m. with freshman Tyler Thornton expected to get the nod.
   

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