SPOKANE, Wash.  – Saint Mary's succeeded in making a statement in the series opener against WCC-leading Gonzaga, shutting out the Zags 12-0 behind a stunning, 2-hit performance from Tyler Thornton.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Gaels got on the board first in the top of the second: with one out, Eddie Haus sent a double into left field on an 0-2 count and then moved to third on a passed ball. After Austin Chauvin reached on a hit-by-pitch, Gio Diaz delivered the first run of the series with a sacrifice fly to right field. SMC led 1-0 after two innings.
• The Gaels went back to work in the top of the third, loading the bases with two outs. Then, Haus worked a walk to give the Gaels a 2-0 lead. Chauvin then followed with his third home run of the season, a grand slam to left field which gave SMC a 6-0 advantage.
• Saint Mary's added two more in the following inning and then in the fifth, Joe Vranesh made it a 12-0 ballgame with his team-leading, 10th home run of the season, and SMC's second grand slam of the game. 

NOTABLE NUMBERS

• 10: Vranesh now has a 10-game hitting streak
• 15: Vranesh has reached base safely in 15-consecutive games
• 4.2: No. of innings that Tyler Thornton no-hit Gonzaga to start the game
• 9: Thornton sat down 9-straight batters and 12 of 13 from the first to two outs in the fifth
• 5: Thornton struck out five of six batters between the second and fourth
• 1: Saint Mary's finally broke through and won their first road WCC game of the season
• 9: This was the Gaels' ninth double-digit run total of the season
• 10: No. of walks for SMC (tied for highest total this season)
• 2: No. of hits allowed for Thornton (third-consecutive start allowing just two hits – two hits in his last 21.1 innings)
• 0: No runs allowed for Thornton in his last 21.1 innings pitched
• 37-0: SMC has outscored their opponents 37-0 in their last three series openers.

QUOTABLE

"Today was a total team effort," said head coach Eric Valenzuela. "We pitched great, swung the bats outstanding and played tremendous defense against a great club who had won four in a row. I am very proud of this team. We need to continue to play well because Gonzaga will fight back tomorrow."
 
COMING UP
 
Saint Mary's will resume the series against Gonzaga on Saturday as game two's first pitch will take place at 6:00 p.m. in Spokane.
 
#GaelsRise – Tickets for all upcoming home game are available for purchase here  on SMCGaels.com or by calling the SMC Ticket Office at (925) 631-GoTx. Fans can find all live coverage links on SMCGaels.com.