MORAGA, Calif. — Saint Mary's rallied back in Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader against Santa Clara (6-16, 3-6 WCC) to split the day's games and take the series. The Gaels (11-20, 2-4 WCC) won the opening game of the series 10-0 in five innings yesterday. 

GAME 1 RECAP
Santa Clara 3, Saint Mary's 2

Saint Mary's was cruising in the first game of the day before running into some trouble late. SMC held a 1-0 lead heading into the sixth until a Santa Clara home run by Emma Bickford made it a 2-1 contest. It was only the Broncos' third hit of the game up to that point as Gaels' starter Sofia Earle dominated hitters early on. 

SCU crossed two more runners in the seventh after an error prolonged the inning. Earle was pulled with one out and both runs charged to her were unearned. 

In the bottom of the seventh, Maddie Gallagher smashed a 1-out double to the left field fence and her pinch runner replacement Alyssa Vessel would come around to score after Kenedi Lopes singled down the left field line. SMC went on to put runners on first and second but Santa Clara escaped with the win as a hard hit ball by Jayda Alaan was tracked down by the Broncos' center fielder for the final out. 

Saint Mary's other run of the game was scored in the fifth as Marissa Nishihara drove in Bry Waters on a sacrifice fly.

The Gaels had four hits and four walks in the loss. Lopes was the team's top offensive by going 2-for-3 with a double and a base on balls. In the circle, Earle picked up the tough luck loss after striking out seven Broncos and giving up only four hits. 

GAME 2 RECAP
Saint Mary's 3, Broncos 2

Late runs proved to be the difference maker once again in the final game of the series but this time it was the Gaels who benefitted in the late innings. 

The Broncos scored a single run in each of the first two innings and held a 2-0 lead until the fifth. In that frame, Indya Smith smacked a single up the middle to bring home Nishihara and make it a one-run game. 

A 1-2-3 inning by SMC starter Eileen Perez would give Saint Mary's a chance to take the lead in the bottom of the sixth. 

The inning began with Julia McCormack reaching on an error, followed by a single, and then a fielder's choice on a sacrifice bunt where no out was recorded. Alex Casas was the next Gael to come to the plate and she delivered by cracking a sacrifice fly to right to tie the score, 2-2. 

The following batter Marissa Montelongo attempted to plate a run on a squeeze bunt but the runner on third, Waters, was tagged out at the dish after a nice defensive play by Santa Clara's pitcher Liyah Lopez. After the out at home, the ball was thrown around the infield trying to gun down Montelongo on her way to second which allowed Jojo Bryant to race all the way around from second base to score and put SMC up, 3-2.

Perez then induced two groundouts and a flyout to end the game and give Saint Mary's their 11th win of the season. The senior threw her second complete game of the year and struck out seven Broncos. Smith led the team's offense with a 3-for-3 game at the plate. SMC totaled seven hits overall.

UP NEXT: PACIFIC 
The Gaels travel to Stockton next weekend for a three-game set with the Tigers. Saturday's doubleheader begins at noon.