MORAGA, Calif. — Saint Mary's Softball will return home and play at Cottrell Field for just the second time this season for a pair of home games against San Jose State on Wednesday, followed by RV Oregon State on Thursday. On Sunday, the Gaels will revisit their matchup against Northern Colorado that was canceled due to bad weather in March.

THE DETAILS
GAME #1
Saint Mary's (10-15) vs. San Jose State (16-13)
Wednesday, March 30 at 2:30 p.m.
Cottrell Field – Moraga, Calif.
Watch | Live Stats

GAME #2
Saint Mary's vs. RV Oregon State (25-8)
Thursday, March 31 at 3:00 p.m.
Cottrell Field – Moraga, Calif.
Watch | Live Stats

GAME #3
Saint Mary's vs. Northern Colorado (12-18)
Sunday, April 3 at 12:15 p.m.
Bill Simoni Field – Stockton, Calif.
Live Stats

LAST TIME OUT
Saint Mary's Softball split a doubleheader against Nevada this past Tuesday. A clear theme of late runs has arised for the Gaels offense this season, as it did once again for Game 1 against Nevada. It wasn't until the top of the sixth inning where junior Indya Smith put one on the board for the Gaels, as she drove in Sasa Koria on a single to center. To top off the highlights for the Gaels offense, Ellen Ebbers sent her second home run of the season to right field to make the final score 6-2. 

The Gaels turned up the heat in Game 2 with an outstanding pitching performance, and enough run support from their offense. Sofia Earle pitched a one-hit shutout against Nevada, concluding, what some may say, her best performance of the season. Things started to look bright for the Gaels offense in the fifth and seventh innings. Holly Lusk and Sasa Koria had run-scoring hits in the fifth inning to give Saint Mary's the lead, and a Nevada error helped score Jojo Bryant in the seventh inning to add a big insurance run.

EXCELLENT EARLE
Earle turned in a masterpiece during her lone appearance of the week, tossing a one-hit shutout at Nevada on Tuesday afternoon, helping her land WCC Pitcher of the Week honors. The senior starting pitching was magnificent, taking a no-hitter into the bottom of the sixth inning. Only three runners reached base against her: one walk, one hit, and one error, all in separate innings. It is her fourth complete game of the season, and the second time in her last three starts that she has thrown a complete game while allowing just one hit. This is the second time that Earle has been named WCC Pitcher of the Week in career.

ABOUT THE OPPONENTS
For the third time this season, Saint Mary's Softball will face San Jose State. It's safe to say that this matchup is as even as it could get, with each team holding a win against the other thus far this season. The Spartans pitcher, Jenessa Ullegue, has the ability to cause some issues for the Gaels with 82.1 innings pitched, six complete games, three shutouts, and an ERA of 1.45. As of late, Ullegue has also become the Spartans best hitter. Although she only has 44 appearances at the plate so far this season, her average is at .432 and has racked up 3 home runs, the second most home runs in the Spartans lineup. 

The Gaels face another Pac-12 competitor this upcoming week in RV Oregon State. The Beavers have a 25-8 overall record, with 12 of those victories resulting in shutouts. Their pitching staff as a whole holds a 2.14 ERA, with senior Mariah Mazon at the top with an ERA of just 0.90 and 79.2 innings pitched. Similarly to the Spartans, Mazon also is one of the Beavers' top hitters alongside two of her other teammates, Frankie Hammoude and Charity Sevaaetasi, who all have at least 20 RBIs and have hit at least 5 home runs each this season.

To end the week, Saint Mary's will revisit Northern Colorado after their first scheduled matchup against the Bears got canceled due to poor weather conditions. With a 3-0 conference record, Northern Colorado is holding strong within the Big Sky Conference. The Bears graduate student, Kaileigh Holland, has been outperforming at the plate this season. Her average of .341, RBI total of 23 and 3 home runs this season could give the Bears a fighting chance. On the flip side, Northern Colorado's pitching staff has struggled this season with a staff ERA of 6.20, with 4.61 being the lowest ERA amongst the Bears.