HUNTSVILLE, Tex. — The final game of the opening series was a wild one on Sunday, as Saint Mary's Baseball and Sam Houston State traded blows back and forth all afternoon long. In the season's first extra-inning affair, the Gaels were able to turn to one big performance to carry them through and help them pick up their first win of the season, an 8-6 final in 11 innings.
 
LONG WAYS FOR LIMA
 
The Gaels were struggling all weekend to score runs in the first series of the year, but in the top of the fourth inning, junior outfielder Nico Lima emphatically ended the scoring drought. With one out, and 21.1 scoreless innings in the book, Lima blasted a fastball out to left center field that clanked high off the light pole for a towering home run, the first of the season for Saint Mary's. 
 
THAT'S NOT ALL, FOLKS
 
The first big inning of the season for Saint Mary's came in the top of the sixth, and it was sparked once again by Lima. He singled up the middle to drive home Gio Diaz to make it 2-0 Saint Mary's, but they weren't done there. With Lima on second, Austin Elder hit a bouncing ball to short that was thrown away, scoring Lima and making it 3-0. One batter later, Matt Green came up with his first RBI of the season, driving one into center to score Elder and cap off a three-run inning.
 
DANG GOOD, DALTON
 
Dalton Ponce made his first collegiate start on Sunday, and he sparkled through his first five innings of work, allowing just two hits while striking out five without surrendering a walk or a run. The sixth inning saw bit of bad luck for the sophomore out of Fontana, as he allowed a bunt single and an infield single with two outs in the frame, forcing the hand of head coach Greg Moore, who removed Ponce from the contest. 
 
WILD, WILD, ENDING
 
Both teams went back and forth scoring runs in the sixth and seventh innings to tie the game at 6-6. In the bottom of the 8^th, the Bearkats put the go-ahead runner on third against closer Michael Hobbs, but Ryan Novis made a diving catch in shallow center to end the inning and keep it tied going into the ninth. The game remained that way until the top of the 11^th, when Saint Mary's loaded the bases with no outs for Lima. He sent a sharp grounder up the middle to bring home a pair, bringing his total to 4-6 with 5 RBI, and putting the Gaels in position for their first win of the season. In the bottom half, Trent Touchet hit his first homer of the season, with one out, to make it 8-7 Gaels. Michael Hobbs was able to keep his composure and finish off 4.2 innings of relief for his first win.
 
QUOTABLE
 
"Coach told me to keep the same approach as the last two games," Nico Lima said, after his massive offensive performance. "The whole team carried it pretty well today."
 
UP NEXT
 
The Gaels have a very quick trip back to Moraga before their home opener on Monday afternoon, with first pitch scheduled for 2:00 pm. The University of Utah will head out to Louis Guisto Field as the first Pac-12 team the Gaels play on the week, with a trip to No. 10 UCLA scheduled for the weekend. Both team's starting pitchers are to be determined for the Monday matinee. 
 
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