MORAGA, Calif. — The Gaels begin a four-game homestand on Wednesday with a matchup against Rider University and then WCC opponent Pacific this weekend.

SCHEDULE
Game #16
Saint Mary's Gaels (9-6) vs. Rider University Broncs (5-8)
Wednesday, March 13, 3:00 p.m.
Moraga, Calif. –– Louis Guisto Field
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Game #17
Saint Mary's Gaels (9-6) vs. Pacific Tigers (10-5)
Friday, March 15, 3:00 p.m.
Moraga, Calif. –– Louis Guisto Field
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Game #18
Saint Mary's Gaels vs. Pacific Tigers
Friday, March 16, 1:00 p.m.
Moraga, Calif. –– Louis Guisto Field
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Game #19
Saint Mary's Gaels vs. Pacific Tigers
Saturday, March 17, 1:00 p.m.
Moraga, Calif. –– Louis Guisto Field
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SCOUTING REPORT
The Gaels return to Moraga this week following a three-game sweep of Utah Valley where SMC put up a total of 31 runs. The Wolverines were only able to record five runs in the whole series while the Gaels recorded 13 runs in game two alone, just one run shy of their season high for most runs in a game (Feb. 16 vs. WSU). Saint Mary's collected five homeruns from four different players over the course of the series (Eddie Haus, Ryan Novis, Joe Vranesh, Austin Chauvin) and now have ten total on the season. The Gaels also brought the bats out for extra-base hits during the series and recorded three triples and eight doubles throughout the weekend.

Saint Mary's has made their way into the national rankings in a number of different ways this week after a strong weekend. The team is ranked fourth in the nation in fielding percentage (0.987) and they did not record a single error during the series against Utah Valley. The squad is also ranked ninth in the nation in doubles per game (2.53) and are ranked seventh in total doubles on the season (38). Kevin Milam is ranked individually 11th in the nation with eight total doubles all season. Joe Vranesh is ranked 20th nationally and first in the conference with an on-base percentage (.554). He is also ranked 18th in the nation with 20 RBI and is ranked 24th nationally and first in the WCC with a slugging percentage of .800.

Junior Ryan Novis produced amazing numbers in the weekend series against Utah Valley and has been heating up as the season progresses. Novis hit 8-for-15 during the series including a grandslam and a solo homerun, both in the same game. He collected seven RBI and a double, while striking out only once the whole series. Novis is now hitting a .375 clip which is second behind Vranesh for highest on the team among regular starters. He is also tied with Vranesh for most total hits on the season (21) and has a slugging percentage of .536.

Freshman Tyler Thornton delivered yet another dominant start last Sunday, tossing 6.0 innings and allowing just two hits while striking out eight and walking one. His numbers have been eye popping this season as in three starts, he has only allowed three earned runs in 18.1 innings pitched while striking out a team-high, 27 batters. Furthermore, he has only allowed eight hits. Junior Milam also pitched a gem last weekend as he threw seven innings allowing only one earned run and three hits, while striking out 11 batters. This start comes in the wake of a few shakier starts from Milam, but this last out is a sign of good things to come for the Brentwood-native.

RIDER UNIVERSITY
The Broncs will be visiting Louis Guisto Field with a record of 5-8 so far this season. They are coming off of a 4-2 win against UC Riverside following a 2-0 series loss against San Francisco earlier in the weekend. The Broncs have yet to play a game on their home turf this year and have posted an away record of 2-6 along with a neutral site record of 3-2. Rider has recorded a team batting average of .237 through this point in the season along with a slugging percentage of .333.

Senior Riley Mihalik is leading the Broncs this year with a .420 batting average and 15 RBI through their first 13 games. Mahlik has recorded 21 hits including five homeruns and three doubles as well as has been walked six times. He has a slugging percentage of .780 which is ranked 28th in the nation, while also recording an on-base percentage of .482. Other standouts for Rider include junior Sebastian Williamson, who is batting .316 with 12 hits, three doubles, and five RBI.

On the mound, junior Pete Soporowski has been dominate for the Broncs as he has recorded an ERA of 2.11 through 21 and a third innings pitched. He has a record of 1-1 and has only allowed five earned runs through the first 13 games of the season. Soporowski has struck out 26 batters and has allowed just one home run through his four starts. Senior Zach Gakeler has been stellar in relief for Rider as he has an ERA of 0.77 through six appearances. He has pitched 11 and two thirds innings while only giving up five hits and one earned run.

PACIFIC
The Tigers have posted a 10-5 record through the beginning of the season and have yet to play another WCC opponent. Pacific most recently won 11-5 against California Baptist, but dropped the previous three games against the same team in a weekend series. The Tigers began their season with a 6-0 record before losing their first game of the season to Sacramento State. The team has a record of 7-1 at home and an away record of 3-4, while hitting .244 as a squad.

Junior James Free is batting well for the Tigers with a clip of .377 as well as a slugging percentage of .557 and an on-base percentage of .431 through the first 15 games of the season. He has 23 total hits on the season including 12 RBI, two homeruns, and five doubles. Sophomore Alex Leforestier has also been doing well for Pacific with a batting average of .333 and an on-base percentage of .469 which is the highest of regular starters on the team.

Pitching for Pacific, senior Ricky Reynoso has been consistent on the mound with an ERA of 3.10. In 20 and a third innings pitched, he has allowed 17 hits and seven earned runs, but has struck out 32 batters which is a team high. Reynoso is averaging 14 strikeouts per nine innings and has only given up one homerun in four starts. Henrik Reinersten has been stellar in relief for the Tigers with an ERA of 0.96 through nine and a third innings pitched. He has only given up one earned run through five appearances and has struck out 13 batters and only walked one.


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