MORAGA, Calif. — One of the toughest tests of the season stood in front of Saint Mary's Softball on Thursday afternoon, and the Gaels were up to the challenge. Facing RV Oregon State in a single game at Cottrell Field, the Gaels hung tight with one of the best teams in the country aside from a few big innings for the Beavers. The final big inning made the final score a lopsided 11-0, but the Gaels dropping to 11-16 is not indicative of the final score.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Sofia Earle drew the start for the Gaels, and she was sharp early in the game. She took a shutout into the third inning, when her defense began to let her down. A one-out single with a runner on base caused both runners to move up into scoring position after the ball was bobbled in right field. She worked around that induce a flyout and then a walk to load the bases, but was on the precipice of getting out of the inning. A shallow fly ball to left field was dropped, leading to two early runs for the Beavers and a 2-0 lead. Then a hit by pitch and a walk scored another run, and Earle was pulled from the game.
 
Marissa Woolsey was excellent in relief, as she worked 3.1 innings before she allowed a run. That's when the game flipped on its side for Saint Mary's, as they needed three pitchers to get through an eight-run seventh inning. Six hits were aided by five walks to keep the wheels turning for the Beavers, who sent 14 hitters to the plate.
 
On offense, the Gaels were able to muster just two hits. Jenavee Amador doubled down the right field line in the second inning to put the Gaels in a scoring position, but the inning would stall there. In the seventh, Reyna Heredia entered as a pinch hitter and sent one into the right field corner for a base hit.
 
UP NEXT
Saint Mary's heads to Stockton this Sunday for a neutral-site game against Northern Colorado on Sunday, April 3. First pitch is scheduled for 12:15 pm as the Gaels wind down non-conference play. Next weekend, they will begin conference play, but not before a doubleheader at Fresno State on Tuesday, April 5.