This Week in Gael Athletics | Mar. 15-21
3/15/2021 6:06:00 PM | Baseball, General, Men's Soccer, Men's Tennis, Softball, Women's Soccer, Women's Tennis, Women's Volleyball
Take a look at what Saint Mary's teams are up to this week...
TUESDAY
Baseball vs. San Francisco, 3:00 pm (Moraga, Calif.)
Live Stream | Stats
Just two days after completing a four-game series win over Pacific, the Gaels have one more non-conference game before jumping into WCC play. Saint Mary's hosts the Dons of USF on Tuesday afternoon at Louis Guisto Field for the first of two non-conference games with San Francisco (the other scheduled for May 10). Saint Mary's won three out of four against Pacific over the weekend, but fell in the series finale on Sunday 7-5. Dalton Ponce will get the ball and start for the first time since February 28.
WEDNESDAY
Men's Tennis at Stanford, 2:00 pm (Stanford, Calif.)
The Gaels will travel across the bay to face Stanford for a midweek match. SMC is coming off three matches in three days over the weekend and were narrowly defeated 4-3 in their last contest against Nevada. Stanford has only played one match this spring and beat Santa Clara 6-1.
THURSDAY
Volleyball vs. Santa Clara, 6:00 pm (Moraga, Calif.)
Live Stream | Stats
Saint Mary's Volleyball plays three of their final four matches of the season at home, and that begins on Thursday night with a date against the Santa Clara Broncos. The Gaels have won five of their last six dating back to February, including a split last weekend against San Francisco. Jennifer "Boo" Laird is coming off a stellar week that saw her rack up 19 blocks and the Gaels' first weekly award from the WCC since Jordan Shaw in 2013 (Laird was named Defensive Player of the Week).
FRIDAY
Softball vs. California Baptist (DH), 1:00 and 3:30 pm (Moraga, Calif.)
Live Stream (Game 1) | Live Stream (Game 2) | Stats
The Gaels will return to Moraga after playing their previous eight games on the road. SMC is 8-12 this season and picked up wins against two tough teams in Stanford and San Diego State last week. The Lancers are 7-14 this year and will have a busy week before coming to Moraga. CBU faces Long Beach State on the road twice on Tuesday and then plays a doubleheader at Pacific on Thursday before taking on the Gaels the following day.
Baseball vs. San Diego, 3:00 pm (Moraga, Calif.)
Live Stream | Stats
For the first time since the 2019 season, Saint Mary's plays a WCC game. A three-game series against the San Diego Toreros opens up at 3:00 pm at Louis Guisto Field, with Carlos Lomeli getting the ball in game one for the Gaels. The last time the Gaels played games that counted for their conference record was back in May of 2019, and that season ended with the Gaels in the conference championship game. Saint Mary's is coming off four straight games against WCC teams, but those were not counted against their league record.
Volleyball at Santa Clara, 6:00 pm (Santa Clara, Calif.)
Live Stream | Stats
Back at it 24 hours later but at a different venue, Saint Mary's Volleyball and Santa Clara hit the hardwood once again, this time at the home of the Broncos. This will wrap up the season series against Santa Clara, and will also serve as the final road game of the indoor season for Saint Mary's. The Gaels have not swept a season series against the Broncos since the 2018 season, but do have a total of nine all-time in the rivalry. Blocking has been a big strength of the Gaels as of late, as they now sit in fifth in the conference with over two blocks per set.
SATURDAY
Track at State Center Invitational, 12:00 pm (Fresno, Calif.)
One week after heading to Fresno Pacific for their first track meet in over a year, Saint Mary's heads back to the home of the Sunbirds for their State Center Invitational. The Gaels will send a similar squad of athletes out this time around and will look to build on the solid performances put up during their first meet of the 2021 season. Rayna Stanziano is the reigning winner of the 1500m race, starting her year off where she ended the Cross Country season. The women's team put three racers in the top-five in the 1500m, while the men had one top-five finish on the afternoon last weekend.
Men's Tennis at Nevada, 12:00 pm (Reno, Nev.)
The Gaels will get a rematch with the Wolfpack in Reno after falling to Nevada over the past weekend. Nevada is 3-4 this season and will play Idaho earlier in the week. Men's tennis senior Damon Kesaris was named the Bay Alarm Student-Athlete of the Week after going 5-0 last week.
Women's Tennis at San Jose State, 12:00 pm (San Jose, Calif.)
The Gaels are 2-3 this season and their only three losses have come to top-25 teams. The team's last match was on Thursday in a 6-1 loss to No. 24 Stanford. San Jose State is 6-0 this season and have defeated San Francisco, Santa Clara, and Pacific. Leading the charge for SMC is Mariia Kozyreva who is ranked No. 17 in the nation and 4-0 in singles so far.
Baseball vs. San Diego, 1:00 pm (Moraga, Calif.)
Live Stream | Stats
Game two between the Gaels and Toreros gets going at 1:00 pm on Saturday afternoon as the Gaels send Sam Bower to the hill. Bower was nearly unhittable in his last start, allowing just one hit across seven innings, allowing two runs (one earned) in a win over Pacific. Saint Mary's will attempt to clinch a series win on Saturday and get conference play off on the right foot, as the Gaels will play a total of 27 conference games this year across nine different WCC teams. A way to get there might be through dominant pitching, as the Gaels have held opponents to three or fewer runs in 11 of their 16 games entering the week.
Women's Soccer at Gonzaga, 1:00 pm (Spokane, Wash.)
Live Stream | Stats
Saint Mary's picked up their first win of the season this past weekend with a 2-1 decision over San Diego. The Gaels will have a tough task of facing Gonzaga on the road however as the Zags are 5-1 to start the year and 3-0 in conference play. GU took down San Diego and Loyola Marymount 3-0 in their past two games and have outscored their opponents 15-3 this season.
SUNDAY
Baseball vs. San Diego, 1:00 pm (Moraga, Calif.)
Live Stream | Stats
A three-game series against San Diego, and a four-game week against WCC teams, comes to a close with the series finale against the Toreros on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 pm at Louis Guisto Field, and the Gaels will send Ky Bush to the mound to try and pitch the Gaels to a win. The Gaels are 3-1 in games started by Bush this season. Saint Mary's did not hit a home run in the series against Pacific, but they already have seven this season, compared to just four in 16 games one season ago. Justin Banks has been the main source of power for the Gaels, as he entered last weekend leading the conference with five homers.
Men's Soccer at Santa Clara, 1:00 pm (Santa Clara, Calif.)
Live Stream | Stats
No. 22 Saint Mary's returns to the pitch on Sunday to face Santa Clara in their home stadium. The Gaels are 3-0-1 and 1-0-1 this season and have yet to surrender a goal through four games. SMC has received balanced scoring throughout their roster as five players have recorded a goal and five players have recorded an assist. The Broncos are 1-3 this year and played the Gaels earlier this year with Saint Mary's coming out on top, 2-0. Andrew Rotter and Tyler Hardin scored for the Gaels in the win.
#GaelsRise
TUESDAY
Baseball vs. San Francisco, 3:00 pm (Moraga, Calif.)
Live Stream | Stats
Just two days after completing a four-game series win over Pacific, the Gaels have one more non-conference game before jumping into WCC play. Saint Mary's hosts the Dons of USF on Tuesday afternoon at Louis Guisto Field for the first of two non-conference games with San Francisco (the other scheduled for May 10). Saint Mary's won three out of four against Pacific over the weekend, but fell in the series finale on Sunday 7-5. Dalton Ponce will get the ball and start for the first time since February 28.
WEDNESDAY
Men's Tennis at Stanford, 2:00 pm (Stanford, Calif.)
The Gaels will travel across the bay to face Stanford for a midweek match. SMC is coming off three matches in three days over the weekend and were narrowly defeated 4-3 in their last contest against Nevada. Stanford has only played one match this spring and beat Santa Clara 6-1.
THURSDAY
Volleyball vs. Santa Clara, 6:00 pm (Moraga, Calif.)
Live Stream | Stats
Saint Mary's Volleyball plays three of their final four matches of the season at home, and that begins on Thursday night with a date against the Santa Clara Broncos. The Gaels have won five of their last six dating back to February, including a split last weekend against San Francisco. Jennifer "Boo" Laird is coming off a stellar week that saw her rack up 19 blocks and the Gaels' first weekly award from the WCC since Jordan Shaw in 2013 (Laird was named Defensive Player of the Week).
FRIDAY
Softball vs. California Baptist (DH), 1:00 and 3:30 pm (Moraga, Calif.)
Live Stream (Game 1) | Live Stream (Game 2) | Stats
The Gaels will return to Moraga after playing their previous eight games on the road. SMC is 8-12 this season and picked up wins against two tough teams in Stanford and San Diego State last week. The Lancers are 7-14 this year and will have a busy week before coming to Moraga. CBU faces Long Beach State on the road twice on Tuesday and then plays a doubleheader at Pacific on Thursday before taking on the Gaels the following day.
Baseball vs. San Diego, 3:00 pm (Moraga, Calif.)
Live Stream | Stats
For the first time since the 2019 season, Saint Mary's plays a WCC game. A three-game series against the San Diego Toreros opens up at 3:00 pm at Louis Guisto Field, with Carlos Lomeli getting the ball in game one for the Gaels. The last time the Gaels played games that counted for their conference record was back in May of 2019, and that season ended with the Gaels in the conference championship game. Saint Mary's is coming off four straight games against WCC teams, but those were not counted against their league record.
Volleyball at Santa Clara, 6:00 pm (Santa Clara, Calif.)
Live Stream | Stats
Back at it 24 hours later but at a different venue, Saint Mary's Volleyball and Santa Clara hit the hardwood once again, this time at the home of the Broncos. This will wrap up the season series against Santa Clara, and will also serve as the final road game of the indoor season for Saint Mary's. The Gaels have not swept a season series against the Broncos since the 2018 season, but do have a total of nine all-time in the rivalry. Blocking has been a big strength of the Gaels as of late, as they now sit in fifth in the conference with over two blocks per set.
SATURDAY
Track at State Center Invitational, 12:00 pm (Fresno, Calif.)
One week after heading to Fresno Pacific for their first track meet in over a year, Saint Mary's heads back to the home of the Sunbirds for their State Center Invitational. The Gaels will send a similar squad of athletes out this time around and will look to build on the solid performances put up during their first meet of the 2021 season. Rayna Stanziano is the reigning winner of the 1500m race, starting her year off where she ended the Cross Country season. The women's team put three racers in the top-five in the 1500m, while the men had one top-five finish on the afternoon last weekend.
Men's Tennis at Nevada, 12:00 pm (Reno, Nev.)
The Gaels will get a rematch with the Wolfpack in Reno after falling to Nevada over the past weekend. Nevada is 3-4 this season and will play Idaho earlier in the week. Men's tennis senior Damon Kesaris was named the Bay Alarm Student-Athlete of the Week after going 5-0 last week.
Women's Tennis at San Jose State, 12:00 pm (San Jose, Calif.)
The Gaels are 2-3 this season and their only three losses have come to top-25 teams. The team's last match was on Thursday in a 6-1 loss to No. 24 Stanford. San Jose State is 6-0 this season and have defeated San Francisco, Santa Clara, and Pacific. Leading the charge for SMC is Mariia Kozyreva who is ranked No. 17 in the nation and 4-0 in singles so far.
Baseball vs. San Diego, 1:00 pm (Moraga, Calif.)
Live Stream | Stats
Game two between the Gaels and Toreros gets going at 1:00 pm on Saturday afternoon as the Gaels send Sam Bower to the hill. Bower was nearly unhittable in his last start, allowing just one hit across seven innings, allowing two runs (one earned) in a win over Pacific. Saint Mary's will attempt to clinch a series win on Saturday and get conference play off on the right foot, as the Gaels will play a total of 27 conference games this year across nine different WCC teams. A way to get there might be through dominant pitching, as the Gaels have held opponents to three or fewer runs in 11 of their 16 games entering the week.
Women's Soccer at Gonzaga, 1:00 pm (Spokane, Wash.)
Live Stream | Stats
Saint Mary's picked up their first win of the season this past weekend with a 2-1 decision over San Diego. The Gaels will have a tough task of facing Gonzaga on the road however as the Zags are 5-1 to start the year and 3-0 in conference play. GU took down San Diego and Loyola Marymount 3-0 in their past two games and have outscored their opponents 15-3 this season.
SUNDAY
Baseball vs. San Diego, 1:00 pm (Moraga, Calif.)
Live Stream | Stats
A three-game series against San Diego, and a four-game week against WCC teams, comes to a close with the series finale against the Toreros on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 pm at Louis Guisto Field, and the Gaels will send Ky Bush to the mound to try and pitch the Gaels to a win. The Gaels are 3-1 in games started by Bush this season. Saint Mary's did not hit a home run in the series against Pacific, but they already have seven this season, compared to just four in 16 games one season ago. Justin Banks has been the main source of power for the Gaels, as he entered last weekend leading the conference with five homers.
Men's Soccer at Santa Clara, 1:00 pm (Santa Clara, Calif.)
Live Stream | Stats
No. 22 Saint Mary's returns to the pitch on Sunday to face Santa Clara in their home stadium. The Gaels are 3-0-1 and 1-0-1 this season and have yet to surrender a goal through four games. SMC has received balanced scoring throughout their roster as five players have recorded a goal and five players have recorded an assist. The Broncos are 1-3 this year and played the Gaels earlier this year with Saint Mary's coming out on top, 2-0. Andrew Rotter and Tyler Hardin scored for the Gaels in the win.
#GaelsRise
Players Mentioned
1B
/ BaseballF/M
/ Men's Soccer
/ Men's Tennis
/ Women's Tennis
RHP
/ BaseballRHP
/ BaseballF
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