MORAGA, Calif. — The Gaels will close out their seven-game homestand this weekend as the San Diego Toreros come to town for a three-game set.

SCHEDULE
Game #40
Saint Mary's Gaels (23-16, 8-7 WCC) vs. San Diego Toreros (25-15, 9-9 WCC)
Friday, April 26, 3:00 p.m.
Moraga, Calif. –– Louis Guisto Field
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Live Stats 

Game #41
Saint Mary's Gaels (23-16, 8-7 WCC) vs. San Diego Toreros (25-15, 9-9 WCC)
Saturday, April 27, 1:00 p.m.
Moraga, Calif. –– Louis Guisto Field
Watch 
Live Stats 

Game #42
Saint Mary's Gaels (23-16, 8-7 WCC) vs. San Diego Toreros (25-15, 9-9 WCC)
Sunday, April 28, 1:00 p.m.
Moraga, Calif. –– Louis Guisto Field
Watch 
Live Stats 

SCOUTING REPORT
Over the last two weeks, Saint Mary's improved their record to 23-16 and they are now 8-7 in conference play. After being swept by USF, the Gaels won 14-1 against San Jose State and then took two of three versus LMU. SMC is tied for fifth in the conference with Pepperdine behind BYU while USF, LMU and Gonzaga are all tied for first with a WCC record of 12-6. The Gaels defense remains highly ranked this week as they are first in the conference and 20th in the nation with a fielding percentage of 0.979. Saint Mary's pitching is also proving strong in the national rankings as they are 16th (1st in WCC) with a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 2.79 and they are 21st in the country (1st in WCC) with an average of 9.8 strikeouts per nine innings. Sophomore Carlos Lomeli's numbers have been stellar so far as well as he is ranked ninth nationally and first in the conference in walks per nine innings (0.98).

Freshman right-hander Tyler Thornton produced career-bests in multiple categories in his start versus LMU, earning himself the first Rawlings West Coast Conference Pitcher of the Week Award of his career. On Thursday afternoon, he shut down WCC-leading LMU in the series-opener. Thornton tossed a career-high, 8.0 innings pitched, allowing no runs and just two hits while striking out 12 (matches a career-high). The righty struck out the first five batters he faced and seven of the first nine. He leads all SMC starting pitchers with a 2.62 earned run average and is second on the team with 62 strikeouts. Thornton's 5.04 hits allowed per nine innings is ranked 16th in the nation and second in the WCC and his 12.49 strikeouts per nine is ranked 24th in the country and first in the conference. This is Saint Mary's sixth WCC weekly award of the season - the most honors of any school in the conference.

Offensively, junior Joe Vranesh continues to lead the team with impressive numbers and clutch performances. Vranesh hit .385 (5-for-13) over the course of the last four games and recorded two home runs, eight RBI, and a double. His efficiency at the plate earned him a slugging percentage of 0.923 for the week. He is ranked second in the conference with a slugging percentage of 0.624 and he is also fourth in the WCC for total home runs (8) on the season. Vranesh is still tied with senior Austin Chauvin for first in the conference with three triples. He also had a big, outfield assist in the top of the first inning of game three against LMU as he threw out the runner at the plate, which later proved to be vital in the two-run victory.

SAN DIEGO
The Toreros are 25-15 this season with a record of 9-9 in conference play after a series win against Portland. They have won four of their last seven including a win in the finale against the LMU Lions in which the Toreros lost the series. San Diego leads the conference with a team batting average of 0.289 and leads the WCC in total hits (397) with SMC on their heels in second (373). With the highest batting average and most hits, the Toreros lead the conference with an average of 6.9 runs per game. San Diego will play two midweek, non-conference games this week before visiting Louis Guisto Field, with a game on Tuesday against San Diego State and a matchup against Hawaii on Wednesday.

Senior Ripken Reyes is leading not only his team with a batting average of .369, but his average leads the conference as well. Reyes has an OPS of 0.938 and holds the highest on-base percentage among his teammates (.461). He is also first on his team and first within the WCC with a total of 55 hits this season including nine doubles, two triples, and a home run. Close behind Reyes is sophomore Shane McGuire with a .336 batting average and a total of 11 doubles on the season, which is tied for most on the team. McGuire also has a home run and 26 RBI, and leads the team with a total of 28 walks this season. Junior Paul Kunst leads the Toreros with four home runs this year.

On the mound for San Diego, junior Chris Murphy has started nine games, has a record of 4-1, and is posting an earned run average of 2.72 and a WHIP of 1.11. Through 53.0 innings pitched, he has allowed just 29 hits and holds opposing batters to a .163 average against him. Murphy has given up 16 earned runs this year, but has struck out 72 batters and walked just 28. Sophomore Travis Kuhn has been a productive relief pitcher for the Toreros with an ERA of 3.34 through 17 appearances. In 35 innings pitched, Kuhn has only allowed 20 hits while striking out 48 batters. Opposing batters are hitting a .167 average against him and he has posted a WHIP of 1.20.

#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.