SAN ANTONIO – Saint Mary's won a pitcher's duel 1-0 over UT San Antonio on Friday in game one of a four game set with the Road Runners, behind a fantastic start from Derik Eaquinto.
 
ONE IS ENOUGH
The Gaels had a golden opportunity to score in the first inning when Gavin Napier tripled down the right-field line with one out, but the they were unable to bring him in from third.
 
Another one-out triple would lead to a run in the fifth inning though, as this time it was catcher Blake McDonald who tripled to left field. That was followed by an RBI ground out to the right side off the bat of freshman Jared Mettam, and the Gaels were on the board first.
 
FRIDAY STOPPER
Eaquinto would allow a single to start the second and a stolen base, but avoid any real trouble. Same for a two-out single in the third and a wild pitch. He'd issue a walk to start the sixth, but would pick that runner off.
 
The only real threat from UTSA came in the 8th with one out. Eaquinto would exit the game after allowing a single to center on his 107th pitch of the night. John Damozonio came in with a runner at first, as the freshman has been lights out so far as a Gael, stranding four inherited runners in scoring position.
 
But he would have an errant pickoff attempt to first that would allow the runner to advance all the way to third. But Damozonio remained calm and confident, and with the infield in got a ground ball to Mettam at short for out number two, and a fly ball to right to end the inning.
 
Damozonio would remain in the game for the ninth, and after a line out to start the inning, an error would put a runner on first with one out. But Saint Mary's would turn a 6-4-3 double play on the next batter to end the game for Damozonio's first collegiate save.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Each team managed just four hits, but the Gaels two triples and doubles by Christian Almanza and Nick Mistone were the only extra-base hits of the game.
 
Eaquinto collected his first win at the NCAA DI level after leading the NJCAA with a 1.48 ERA in 85.1 innings last spring at Salt Lake Community College.
 
UP NEXT
Saturday will feature the double header of the series, with game one at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time and game two slated for 2:00 p.m.