RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The Gaels had their streak snapped on Sunday but still built a rally in the ninth that came up just short in a 9-7 loss to the UC Riverside Highlanders. The first loss of the season puts SMC's record to 11-1 and a set new program record in wins to start a season by five games.
 
A Gavin Napier single was followed by a Christian Almanza double to start the top of the first for the Gaels. They got a pair of runs from a Christopher Campos groundout to drive in Napier and a Nathan Chong sac fly plated Almanza to jump out to a 2-0 lead. And while it was great to manufacture some runs early on, productive outs or wild pitches were how the Gaels would have to scratch across runs throughout the day.
 
The Highlanders would do the same in the bottom of the inning as a sac fly produced a run. That was after the Gaels hit the leadoff man and he stole second with an error on the throw to get him to third. UC Riverside tied it on a squeeze play with runners on the corners and one out as small ball was the method of the day early on.
 
Nathan Chong scored on a wild pitch after advancing to second on a wild one to put the Gaels up 3-2. Jack Snook went four innings allowing just two hits and one earned run while walking four and striking out five. Left hander Ryan Daugherty came in and walked the leadoff man in the fifth on four pitches before Casey Candiotti allowed a home run to put the Roadrunners up 4-3.
 
The Gaels tied it up by taking advantage of the Highlanders mistakes. Campos reached on an error, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and scored on a wild pitch, and UC Riverside did the same when a Gaels error plated a run and put UC Riverside right back up at 5-4.
 
Riverside struck in the seventh with their second extra-base hit of the day when a double to left center cleared the bases and put the Highlanders up 8-5. Another Gaels error added a ninth run to the scoreboard for UC Riverside going into the ninth inning.
 
But Saint Mary's was not done trying to keep that streak alive. Almanza drove in Napier with a double to center before a double to right by Chong scored Almanza and the Gaels were down three with two down in the ninth.
 
The Gaels would plate a run with a balk and suddenly SMC was down just 9-7. The Highlanders managed to get Nick Mistone out for just the second time in a 3 for 5 day on a bang-bang play at first to escape the threat.
 
Chong drove in two runs on a 1 for 1 day with a walk and a sac fly. Almanza was 2 for 5 with and RBI and two runs scored. Campos scored a pair of runs as did Napier.
 
UP NEXT
The Gaels will have a good test in Sacramento when they play the Hornets at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 8.
 
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