STOCKTON, Calif. — Friday night was monumental for Saint Mary's Baseball in a few ways. First, it marked the Gaels first game against a WCC opponent (albeit in a non-conference game) since the 2019 season. Secondly, Saint Mary's was hopeful for a bounce-back start from their ace, Carlos Lomeli. Third, a breakout game from Ryan Novis would be helpful in getting the offense rolling. Saint Mary's the last two figured out on Friday night, and the end result was a 3-1 win over Pacific, moving Saint Mary's to 7-6 while dropping Pacific to 5-5.
 
NOVIS IS NO NOVICE
So often it seems that as Ryan Novis is able to drive in runs, good things happen for the Gaels. That was the case on Friday night, as Novis had his best game of the season to the tune of a 2-5 night with all three of the SMC RBIs. The second inning was where his night began, after Christopher Campos opening the inning by reaching via an error, and Marc Goulart singled to center. With two down in the inning, Jacob Talamante walked, loading the bases for Novis. He delivered with a clutch two-out, RBI single to left field, giving the Gaels a 2-1 lead. He provided insurance for the Gaels in the fourth, driving home Nick Mistone after the Gaels second baseman singled to open up the inning. Novis had just four RBIs entering the game on Friday, and became the third Gael to record three RBIs in a game this season.
 
REBOUNDING IN BASEBALL
The other piece to the puzzle on Friday night for Saint Mary's was getting a bounce-back start from Carlos Lomeli, who was rocked in his last outing against Cal. The senior right-hander delivered after a rocky start to the outing. Lomeli allowed the first three hitters to reach base in the first, including the Tigers' lone run, but settled down after that point, going 5.2 innings and allowing just five hits, the one run, one walk, and five strikeouts. He nearly got through six full innings, but after retiring eight hitters in a row, he allowed a pair of runners to reach base. Liam Steigerwald came in and slammed the door shut on the potential rally, helping secure the second win of the season for Lomeli.
 
ESCAPING TROUBLE
The Saint Mary's bullpen is one of the strengths of this year's team, and they had to escape trouble all night. Steigerwald stranded two runners in the sixth, and then Michael Hobbs entered the game after a leadoff walk in the seventh. Hobbs proceeded to walk two more in the inning, but escaped the jam after inducing an inning-ending double play up the middle. In the eighth, Jackson Hulett hit the first batter he faced but then struck out the next. Ryan Sanders took over for him and got a strike-him-out, throw-him-out double play to end the inning. Christopher Campos then pitched a much-needed clean ninth inning to secure the win for Saint Mary's.
 
UP NEXT
The Gaels and Tigers will go back at it again tomorrow for a pair of games, with a twin bill starting at 2:00 pm. Both games will be streamed live on the WCC with Zack Bayrouty on the call. Saint Mary's will send their usual second and third starters on the mound in the form of Sam Bower and Ky Bush, both with ERAs below 2.00.