GREENVILLE, N.C. – Saint Mary's Baseball took game one of a double header on Sunday against East Carolina University, but couldn't quite hang on to game two as the Gaels are now 13-3 on the season.
 
GAME ONE
The Gaels struck first when Nathan Chong doubled to right center to drive in Gavin Napier and Javy Espinosa to go up 2-0 in the third. SMC almost scored again in the inning as Chris Santiago ripped a ball deep to left that required a running grab at the wall to prevent the Gaels from tacking on.
 
An Espinoza ground out plated Blake McDonald in the fourth and a Kyle Velazquez double down the right field line drove in McDonald and Chong in the fifth for a 5-0 lead. That was followed by an Espinoza single to score Velazquez to put SMC up 6-0.
 
The Pirates would climb back in it scoring two runs in the sixth and would to cut it to one in the ninth. A pair of singles and a walk loaded up the bases in the ninth, before a balk and a wild pitch plated runs to cut the Gaels lead to 6-4. Chase Dabbs came into the game and got a ground out to for the first out of the inning which scored the run from third and made it a 6-5 game. But Dabbs shut the door for his first save of the season with a groundout and fly out to seal the win for Saint Mary's.
 
Christopher Campos got the start and went a scoreless 3.1 innings allowing just one hit with two walks and five strikeouts. Nathan Schneider picked up the win after getting the Gaels out of a jam in the fourth and going 2.2 innings of allowing just one earned run.
 
Espinoza had a big day at the plate going 2 for 5 with two RBI and a run scored. Chong continued his hot start to the season by going 3 for 4 with two RBI and a run scored.
 
GAME TWO
Saint Mary's jumped ahead in game two as well when Marc Goulart singled in Santiago and Seth Nager placed a perfect bunt up the first base line to plate Velazquez from third with one out for a 2-0 Gaels lead in the top of the second.
 
The Pirates answered in the bottom of the second with a solo home run, but it would be the only run allowed by Conner Roberts in his 5.1 innings of work. Another Velazquez double down the right field line in the third scored Espinoza and Saint Mary's had reclaimed their two-run lead at 3-1.
 
But in the seventh a leadoff single was followed by an error in left and a wild pitch to put runners at second and third with no one out. Jack Snook came in and got a fly ball to right that produced a run for the Pirates. Snook got a groundout after that, but a throwing error at second allowed a run to score before a line out to Mistone lead to a double play to end the threat with the scored tied at 3-3.
 
In the eighth the Pirates got a solo home run to right to go ahead 4-3. Saint Mary's threatened in the top of the ninth though as Campos singled to start the inning, but McDonald hit into a double play. Nager drove one to center that was misplayed allowing him to get to third, but the Pirates stopped Christian Almanza to ground out.
 
UP NEXT
The Gaels will remain in the Carolinas as they will take on Charleston Southern on Monday, March 14 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time.
 
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