SB | Two Low Scoring Games Result in Saturday Split

Saturday, March 4

Davis, CA

8:30 am

Saint Mary's College of California

5-12

Siena

10-5

Siena

Saint Mary's

Photo by: Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner

SB | Two Low Scoring Games Result in Saturday Split

3/4/2023 4:41:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

DAVIS, Calif. — Saint Mary's softball sought to turn things around after dropping both games of the Capital Classic on Friday. Shifting the remainder of the weekend to UC Davis, the Gaels did just that, using some strong pitching and just enough offense in game one to beat the Siena Saints 2-1. The second game of the day came against the hosting UC Davis Aggies, where SMC dropped the game by the same score of 2-1. The Gaels are now 5-13 on the season with one left to play this weekend.

Game 1: Saint Mary's 2, Siena 1

THE FRESHMAN DELIVERS
The first month of the collegiate career of Chelsea Bennett has seen its fair share of ups and downs. Safe to say that Saturday morning's game against the Saints was the highest of highs that she has had, earning her first collegiate win in a complete game effort. She dazzled all morning long, holding Siena to just two hits and one run, with just one walk, across seven strong innings. Both hits allowed came in the second inning, when Siena scored their lone run of the game. After the RBI single to put Siena in front, Bennett retired 16 of the game's final 17 hitters, with one walk in the fifth inning as the only other mark on her ledger.

ONLY NEEDED TWO
The Gaels offense didn't have to have its best game of the season in order to secure the win for their freshman pitcher, scoring just two runs in the third inning to take the lead for good. Bry Waters got the team's first hit of the game with one out in the third, and she moved to second on a walk from Hannah Ferguson. Marissa Montelongo laid down a bunt single to load the bases, and Taylor Lane drove in her first run of the day on a base hit to center, moving everybody up an extra base. Taylor Keinath then had a productive out, with a sacrifice fly to right field to score Ferguson and make it 2-1 Gaels. Similarly to Siena, the Gaels only had one hit the rest of the way, but they made those two runs count.

Game 2: UC Davis 2, Saint Mary's 1

ALL IN THE FIRST
The only three runs of the game came in the very first inning, with the Gaels striking first for the second game in a row. Hannah Ferguson led off the game with a single up the middle, and moved to second on a passed ball. A fly out moved her over to third, and then she came around to score on a Taylor Lane fielder's choice to make it 1-0 Gaels. In the bottom half of the inning, the first two hitters reached on singles for the Aggies, the second of which scored a run, and then an error, stolen base, and two walks helped score the second run of the inning. That chased SMC starter Avrey Wolverton from the game, but after that, both offenses went quiet.

KEEPING THE AGGIES AT BAY
Kailey O'Connor continues to be one of the most consistent pitchers the Gaels have in the circle, and she was a steadying presence in game two. After taking over in the first inning, O'Connor went 5.1 innings and did not allow a run, holding the Aggies to just three hits, one walk, and a new career-best seven strikeouts. Twice, UC Davis moved a runner to third base against O'Connor, but she never let the Aggies cross the plate. Without her solid effort in relief, the Gaels might not have had a chance to stay close in the game.

UP NEXT
The weekend up north wraps up on Sunday morning as the Gaels take on Southern Utah one more time, this time at the home of UC Davis softball. Southern Utah beat Saint Mary's on Friday up at Sacramento State, so the Gaels will try to split the season series against SUU. First pitch is at 10:00 am.

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