MORAGA, Calif. – Saint Mary's Baseball will begin their 2023 campaign this weekend, starting with a four-game set against the University of Illinois at Chicago here at home.
 
The season gets started with a double header against the UIC Flames on Friday, February 17, with game one at 10:00 a.m. and game two at 2:00 p.m. They'll play game three of the series at 1:00 p.m. Saturday and the finale at 10:00 a.m. Sunday.
 
Construction is still in progress on Brother Ronald Gallagher Stadium, so no tickets are being sold for the first set of home games, as strictly guests on the team pass list are admitted for this early part of the season. SMC is tentatively aiming to have the stadium ready in late march.
 
THE DETAILS
Saint Mary's (0-0) vs. UIC (0-0)
Feb. 17-19, Louis Guisto Field – Moraga, Calif.
Friday, 10:00 AM WATCH | LIVE STATS
Friday, 2:00 PM WATCH | LIVE STATS
Saturday, 1:00 PM WATCH | LIVE STATS
Sunday, 10:00 AM WATCH | LIVE STATS
 
ABOUT UIC
The Flames were 22-25 last season and 14-11 in Horizon League play, and are making the switch to the Missouri Valley Conference this season. The UIC roster looks quite different for the 2023, with 19 new players on the roster, and just 12 returning (six position players, six pitchers). The 19-member signing class is comprised of nine recent high school grads along with 10 college transfers.

The Flames bring back reigning Freshman All-American Breck Nowik, who was a force on offense in 2022, batting .335 to go along with nine home runs. Rayth Petersen also returns for his junior season, following a sophomore campaign that saw the Barrington, Ill. native rank second on the roster with an impressive .330 batting average.
 
Much of what the Flames looked to replace in the off-season was in relation to pitching, with Tyler Ingram being the lone remaining weekend starter from a season ago. Ingram posted a 4-4 record as the main Friday starter, striking out 58 batters in 71.1 innings pitched in his 13 starts.
 
KEY GAELS RETURNERS
The Gaels possess plenty of experience, and Head Coach Greg Moore estimated eight of his nine position-player starters have had 100-300 college at-bats, including senior first baseman Christian Almanza, who hit .323 and slugged .577 in 130 ABs last year before a leg injury ended his season.
Pitching will again be the strength for the Gaels, as Saint Mary's returns two of the three pitchers who worked the most innings last season in Ryan Wiltse and Ryan Taurek. and brought in two newcomers that each have ace potential.

Saint Mary's has experience and athleticism on the offensive side. Shortstop Gavin Napier returns, who hit .301 while drawing more walks than times he struck out while playing multiple positions last season. The outfield has a lot of speed in Seth Nager, Dalton Mashore, and Coleman Schmidt who all run 6.4 to 6.6 60s and have raw power.

TOP GAELS NEWCOMERS
Division II Metropolitan State University of Denver transfer Bill Ralston will join Almanza to give the Gaels a pair powerful, left-handed bats on the corners and in the middle of the lineup. He redshirted at Saint Mary's in 2018, and the Clayton, Calif. native returns home for his final season after hitting .330 with 23 home runs and 75 RBIs last season.
 
Junior college transfer Derik Eaquinto will begin the season as the Friday starter after leading the NJCAA with a 1.48 ERA in 85.1 innings last spring at Salt Lake Community College. The six-foot-three lefty is a tough at bat, despite not having an overpowering fastball (86-90 mph). But he exhibits great control with the heater and a tight slider. He struck out 96 batters to only 11 walks at Salt Lake CC.
 
Freshman Jason Reitz is the other newcomer in the starting rotation mix in a comeback from Tommy John surgery. The six-foot-nine righthander drops his 90-94 fastball from a high angle, commanding it to both sides of the plate. The San Jose, Calif. native throws a 79-83 slider with late action, and is developing a changeup that the Saint Mary's staff believes could make him a superstar.
 
Reitz is the headliner for a freshman class of pitchers that head coach Greg Moore said is the best he's ever had. He believes four or five draft picks could come from the group. The development of Ryan Spalliero, Adam Enyart and David Thomas could be big contributors for the Gaels down the stretch in conference play.
 
#GaelsRise