HUNTSVILLE, Tex. — The middle game of the three-game opening series between Saint Mary's College and Sam Houston State went in nearly an identical fashion. The Gaels were able to put runners on base, but could not drive them in, spoiling another good pitching performance atop the rotation. The Bearkats came away winners again, this time in a 2-0 final score.
 
SEEING DOUBLE
 
As was the case in Friday's season opener, the Gaels were doing a great job of getting men on base, but could not drive them in. Saturday, some luck was involved with their early-inning struggles. The Gaels put on seven runners in the first four innings, and hit into four double plays. In the fourth, the Gaels put a runner in first base in motion to avoid a double play, but a bouncing ball right to the second baseman covering still created the fourth double play in four innings. All in all, the Gaels bounced into six double plays, tying their own school record set in 1989, and coming one shy of the NCAA record, which happened most recently in 2003.
 
MAD FOR MADRIGAL
 
The redshirt-senior lefty Ty Madrigal drew the start in the second game of the season, and settled down nicely after allowing a run during a 25-pitch first inning. He managed to pitch into the sixth inning, allowing just five hits, two runs, one walk, and six strikeouts, nearly mirroring the performance put up by Carlos Lomeli in the opener. Madrigal left with a 1-0 deficit intact, but the Gaels could not back him up offensively.
 
"I liked what he did going into the fifth inning," head coach Greg Moore mentioned about the pitching performance. "He was rocky early, but he found it around the third inning. He did a nice job steadying the ship."
 
WITH THE BAT
 
Gio Diaz led the way offensively for the Gaels for the second game in a row, producing multiple hits as he did in the season opener. Diaz was 2-4 with the only extra base hit of the game for the Gaels, who wound up with six hits. Ryan Novis, Gabe Giosso, Nico Lima, and Kyle Velazquez also recorded hits for Saint Mary's in the losing effort.
 
UP NEXT
 
The series wraps up with the finale on Sunday as the Gaels will send Dalton Ponce to the mound for his first collegiate start, following a strong season out of the bullpen in 2019. Ponce will be opposed by left-hander Dominic Robinson for the Bearkats, who went 3-1 with a 4.33 ERA last year. First pitch is at 12:000 pm CT.
 
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