MORAGA, Calif.  – The Gaels posted steady run production throughout the game on Saturday and went on to win 8-1 against Santa Clara.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Freshman Bryce Willits hit a leadoff double up the right field line in the bottom of the first to start the game on Saturday. Junior Kevin Milam was then hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second before senior Eddie Haus hit a towering infield fly that was dropped by the second baseman and scored Willits.
• Junior Ken Waldichuk cruised through the first three innings as he struck out four straight batters from two outs in the top of the second to two outs in the top of the third. He got into trouble late in the third after a single followed by a double put a runner on third. Waldichuk then balked and Santa Clara's first run of the day tied the game 1-1.
• Senior Austin Chauvin sent a single to short left field to begin the bottom of the fourth inning. Sophomore Gio Diaz then hit an opposite-field single, still with no outs in the inning. Sophomore JC Santini then hit a deep sacrifice fly to center field that advanced the runners before senior Conor Thane hit a single to right center field and scored both Chauvin and Diaz to put SMC back in the lead 3-1.
• Thane hit a single to right field to start off the bottom of the sixth followed by a single from Willits to put runners on first and second. Novis then singled up the middle and scored both runners to give Saint Mary's the four-run advantage over Santa Clara.
• Santini hit a leadoff double up the left field line in the bottom of the eighth before a sacrifice foul-out from Thane advanced him to third base. Junior Joe Vranesh then sent his 13th home run of the season over the right field wall that put the Gaels up 7-1. Three consecutive singles from Willits, Novis and Milam added another run to the Gaels total and the inning ended with SMC on top 8-1.

QUOTABLES

"I thought Ken's fastball was alive today and he was really sharp," said head coach Eric Valenzuela. "It's good to be this comfortable at home and I feel like our guys really enjoy the home field advantage. My challenge to them is to come out of the gate fast tomorrow and we can use this momentum to play our best game of the weekend."

NOTABLE NUMBERS

• 6: Six pitches thrown for the senior Waldichuk in the first inning
• 6: Six of Waldichuk's seven final pitches in the second inning were swings and misses (two strikeouts)
• 10: Saint Mary's is now 10 games above .500 (29-19, 14-9 WCC)
• 15: Most total home runs for any player since 2010, putting junior Vranesh just two homers shy of tying the record
• 15: Vranesh has now extended his hit streak to 15 games
• 20: Vranesh has now reached safely in 20-consecutive games
• 20: 20th game this season that Gael pitchers have recorded 10 or more strikeouts
• 21: Ties the program-high for wins at home (fourth time overall, last was 2017)

COMING UP

The Gaels will close out the series against the Broncos on Sunday at 1 p.m. with the seniors being recognized prior to first pitch.  

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