

Photo by: Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner
BASE | USF Gets Walk-Off Win in 12th Inning
4/29/2023 6:09:00 PM | Baseball
SAN FRANCISCO – SMC Baseball's second game of three at USF went down to the last inning like the first game did, but this time it was the Dons collecting a 3-2 win with a walk-off double in the bottom of the 12th.
Saint Mary's again struck first when Gavin Napier's infield single to third scored Jared Mettam for a 1-0 SMC lead in the third inning.
The Dons got a run on an RBI groundout in the fourth and a solo home run to start the sixth, but Ryan Sanders pitched great in just his second start of the season. He went five innings allowing just the two runs on six hits, with only one walk and six strikeouts.
The Gaels almost took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fifth, but Mettam was thrown out at the plate. A Bill Ralston single loaded bases with one out, but the Dons got out of it with a strikeout and groundout to end the SMC threat.
Saint Mary's trailed 2-1 in the seventh, but tied the game up after a Mettam got to third on a double with an error and Eddie Madrigal drove him in with a sac fly for his first RBI at SMC.
It looked like the Gaels had a great opportunity to break the tie in the 10th when Christian Almanza doubled, barely beating the throw to second and almost over sliding the bag. But then USF induced a pop up, and though Nathan Chong drew a walk, the Dons got a groundout to end the top of the 10th.
The Gaels dodged bullets in the bottom of the 10th and the 11th. Adam Enyart got a fly ball to end the 10th with a runner at third, and Jack Snook fielded a comebacker to make a play at the plate in 11th. Snook scooped the chopper up with his glove and flipped it home where catcher Blake McDonald applied the tag.
SMC had Ralston and Matteo Bellisimo on base in the 12th, but USF got a groundout to end the threat, and got a single and double on three pitches in the bottom of the 12th to get the walk-off win.
UP NEXT
Game three against the Dons is set for 12:00 p.m. on Saturday in San Francisco.
Saint Mary's again struck first when Gavin Napier's infield single to third scored Jared Mettam for a 1-0 SMC lead in the third inning.
The Dons got a run on an RBI groundout in the fourth and a solo home run to start the sixth, but Ryan Sanders pitched great in just his second start of the season. He went five innings allowing just the two runs on six hits, with only one walk and six strikeouts.
The Gaels almost took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fifth, but Mettam was thrown out at the plate. A Bill Ralston single loaded bases with one out, but the Dons got out of it with a strikeout and groundout to end the SMC threat.
Saint Mary's trailed 2-1 in the seventh, but tied the game up after a Mettam got to third on a double with an error and Eddie Madrigal drove him in with a sac fly for his first RBI at SMC.
It looked like the Gaels had a great opportunity to break the tie in the 10th when Christian Almanza doubled, barely beating the throw to second and almost over sliding the bag. But then USF induced a pop up, and though Nathan Chong drew a walk, the Dons got a groundout to end the top of the 10th.
The Gaels dodged bullets in the bottom of the 10th and the 11th. Adam Enyart got a fly ball to end the 10th with a runner at third, and Jack Snook fielded a comebacker to make a play at the plate in 11th. Snook scooped the chopper up with his glove and flipped it home where catcher Blake McDonald applied the tag.
SMC had Ralston and Matteo Bellisimo on base in the 12th, but USF got a groundout to end the threat, and got a single and double on three pitches in the bottom of the 12th to get the walk-off win.
UP NEXT
Game three against the Dons is set for 12:00 p.m. on Saturday in San Francisco.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: YERBY, Ryan (1-4)
L: Snook, Jack (1-2)

Batting:
2B: Napier, Gavin 1 ; Almanza, Christian 1 ; Mettam, Jared 1
RBI: Napier, Gavin 1 ; Madrigal, Eddie 1
SF: Madrigal, Eddie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Mettam, Jared 2

Batting:
2B: DEMERA, Mario 1 ; STAPLETON, Christian 1
HR: ASBY, Will 1
RBI: DEMERA, Mario 1 ; ASBY, Will 1 ; ATKINS, Blake 1
Base Running:
RUNS: WILLIAMS III, Harris 1 ; ASBY, Will 1 ; CAMPAGNA, Michael 1
SB: FOSTER, Darius 1
Game Leaders
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