SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The Gaels (21-15, 5-10) climbed back from an 8-2 deficit to get within one run but couldn't get over the hump against the Broncos (19-15, 8-7) in an 8-7 loss.
Saint Mary's struck first again in game three as they did in the first two games. After an RBI triple to right field by
Chris Santiago to drive in
Christian Almanza,
Blake McDonald singled to bring in Santiago and make it 2-0 Gaels in the top of the first.
But it was a big second inning for the Broncos that put them ahead as they scored eight times to take an 8-2 lead. Santa Clara strung together seven straight hits including back-to-back doubles to spark the big inning.
But there was a lot of baseball left to be played since the Gaels fell behind early in the game. A two-run shot by Santiago - his ninth HR of the season - cut into the Broncos lead to make it 8-4 in the third.
In the fifth, Saint Mary's got a single from Santiago to score Napier and McDonald singled up the middle again to score Almanza to make it 8-6. That was followed by
Kyle Velazquez bringing the Gaels within one on a base hit to right field to score Santiago and make it 8-7.
Jack Snook and
Jackson Hulett were great out of the bullpen for the Gaels. Snook threw a scoreless 2.2 innings with just one walk and six strikeouts. Hulett went a scoreless 3.2 innings and got a clutch inning-ending double play in the sixth to keep it a one-run game.
The Gaels had the tying run in scoring position in the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth but couldn't get it across.
Seth Nager drove a long fly ball to the wall in the sixth that just missed going out for this third home run of the season by a few feet. SMC had two on with two out in the ninth and Velazquez drove one to the track.
Santiago finished 4 for 5 with four RBI and three runs scored and McDonald was 2 for 4 with two runs driven in. Velazquez was 2 for 5 with an RBI and Almanza walked twice and scored three times.
UP NEXT
Saint Mary's will travel to Reno to take on Nevada on Tuesday, April 19 at 2:00 p.m.
