MORAGA, Calif. – The Gaels came close to pulling off the sweep over first-place Portland on Sunday, but mistakes in the ninth lead to the Pilots pulling out a 9-5 win.
 
SMC is still 5-4 in WCC play while Portland moved up to 7-2. Saint Mary's led most of the way, and even came back when they fell behind in the top of the eighth before the sloppy ninth. Much like last weekend at BYU, three errors would keep the Gaels from sweeping their opponent.
 
The Gaels went in front in the bottom of the third when Dalton Mashore tripled in Jared Mettam from second, and extended their lead in the fourth via Bill Ralston's fourth home run of the season which was a no doubter to deep right.
 
It was a 2-1 Saint Mary's lead going into the eighth when Adam Enyart entered the game and walked the first two batters he faced before a ground out moved both runners into scoring position.
 
Enyart had a 1.80 ERA coming into the game and had been one of the Gaels solid freshmen relievers, just as John Damozonio had been lights outs for SMC who was called upon to get the Gales out of the jam.
 
The Pilots would tie the game on an RBI groundout, and would then take a 3-2 lead on a wild pitch. But the Gaels would not give up, and started a two-out rally in the bottom of the inning. Christian Almanza singled to left center, and Coleman Schmidt beat out an infield single deep into the hole at short.
 
That brought up Ralston, who again delivered when the Gaels needed it most with another no-doubt home run to deep right field and Saint Mary's had gone right back on top 5-3.
 
SMC felt confident going into the ninth, having reclaimed the lead and breathing life into the dugout. Portland would start the ninth inning with two-straight, seeing-eye singles, but Damozonio would strike out the next two batters, and the Gaels were one out away from completing the sweep.
 
But a base hit to right field would make it a 5-4 game, and though the Gaels were still up a run, things would unravel from there. A hit by pitch would load the bases, and an error at short would allow the tying run to score. A bases-loaded walk plated another run to give the Pilots a 6-5 lead before Ryan Taurek replaced Damozonio.
 
An error at third plated another run, before a single to right center scored two more runs, putting Portland ahead 9-5 for good.
 
UP NEXT
The Gaels will host UC Davis this Tuesday, April 4 at 3:00 p.m. at Louis Guisto Field.