MORAGA, Calif. — The final home West Coast Conference series of the season began on Saturday afternoon as Saint Mary's Softball hosted Pacific in the first two games of a three-game series. The Gaels got what they needed in game one: a timely hit, and a dominant pitching performance to take the opener 2-1. In game two, they got on the board early but could not hold off the Tigers in a 5-1 loss. With the split, Saint Mary's is now 15-27 (3-8) while Pacific sit at 12-33 (2-8).
 
Game 1: Saint Mary's 2, Pacific 1
 
FRANCO FOR THE LEAD
Saint Mary's got on the board in the bottom of the third inning with a big two-out knock from Angelina Franco. Marissa Nishihara opened up the inning with a one-out single, her second hit in as many tries. That was followed by a sharply-hit single from Sasa Koria through the left side, putting two runners aboard. They both were moved up on a groundout, and that set the scene for Franco with two down. With a 2-2 count, Franco sent a deep fly ball to center that glanced off the glove of the Pacific centerfielder, bringing both runs home while Franco cruised into second with a two-run double. For Franco, they are her first RBIs of the season, and they came in a massive spot.
 
EARLE REGAINS FORM
The last few starts for Sofia Earle had not been as sharp as Gaels fans had been accustomed to, but she started to get some of that form back on Saturday in game one. Earle allowed an unearned run in the first inning after a misplay in left helped get the Tigers on the board following a single, but she put up nothing but zeroes after that. Earle wound up going the distance, allowing seven hits, walking just one, and striking out nine. The nine strikeouts for Earle are the most she's had since she punched out 10 in a shutout against San Jose State on March 30. Also, with the strikeout total, Earle tied her career-best in strikeouts in a single-season with 123.
 
Game 2:
 
STARTING FROM THE FRONT
In game two, Saint Mary's did not wait around to get on the board right out of the chute, scoring in the first inning to take the early lead. Nishihara opened up the game with a bunt single, her third hit of the afternoon. Indya Smith was then hit by a pitch for the second time in as many first innings, and a double steal with two outs moved them both into scoring position. Rayna Heredia was the one coming through this time, driving a single out to center to plate Nishihara and give the Gaels a 1-0 lead. It could have been two runs, but Smith was thrown at home trying to score, ending the inning
 
HIT PARADE
Pacific began to break through in the fourth inning against Gaels starter Kayla Scott, and then continued to pile on against the two Saint Mary's relievers. All-in-all, the Tigers pounded out 16 hits in game two, including 10 against Scott in four-plus innings of work. Scott kept the Tigers off the board through the first three innings, including escaping a bases-loaded jam in the third inning. Unfortunately for Saint Mary's, Pacific scored once in the fourth to tie the game, and then used three runs in the fifth to take the lead for good, eventually adding one more in the sixth inning.
 
UP NEXT
Saint Mary's and Pacific will play the final game of the three-game series on Sunday at 12:00 pm. With Sunday's game being the final weekend home game of the 2022 season, Saint Mary's will be having its Senior Day before the final game of the series. Four Saint Mary's seniors will be honored: Sofia Earle, Jayda Alaan, Maddie Gallagher, and Alyssa Vessel. It also serves as the penultimate home game in 2022, with the home finale taking place against Stanford on Wednesday, May 4.