MORAGA, Calif. — The forecast said that Friday's afternoon of softball was supposed to be clear of rain, after it came down overnight. That turned out not to be the case, as a steady rain created dreary conditions for Saint Mary's and San Diego as they opened West Coast Conference play. A 2:42 rain delay in the fifth inning erased the chance of playing a doubleheader, but the Gaels were able to storm back and beat the Toreros 8-4 in game one of the series. With the weather impact, the final two games of the series will be played on Saturday beginning at 10:00 am.
 
THE FIRST FOUR INNINGS
The game can be broken down into thirds, beginning with the first four innings representing how it started. Saint Mary's got on the board first thanks Alex Casas bringing home Hannah Ferguson on a bouncing ball to second base that was booted, giving the Gaels a 1-0 lead early in the game. In the fourth, Saint Mary's took advantage of more miscues from the Toreros, as the inning began with a Lindsay Cabral walk, a fielder's choice, and then a Bry Waters walk. A double-steal put runners at second and third with one out, and Ferguson hit a grounder to first base that was mishandled, plating both runs to make it 3-0 SMC after four innings.
 
THE TOP OF THE FIFTH
The top of the fifth inning represented its own third of the game, as the Toreros came storming back to take their first lead of the game. With rain starting to come down harder, the inning began with a pair of errors by the Gaels defense that put two runners aboard. That chased Kailey O'Connor from the game and brought in Odhi Vasquez, who promptly allowed a two-run double and another single to make it a 3-2 game with runners on the corners and still nobody out. The game was then halted for 2:42 due to that persistent rain, but once the field was in playing condition, the Toreros took the lead on a sacrifice fly and another RBI single, suddenly making it 4-3 USD.
 
THE QUICK ANSWER
Saint Mary's responded quickly in the bottom of the inning, scoring three times to go back in front. Victoria Castillo tied the game up on a single up the middle to score Taylor Lane, making it 4-4. The fourth error of the game for USD scored Casas and put the Gaels in front 5-4, and then Waters reached on an infield single that scored a runner from second base on a throw across the diamond, and suddenly the Gaels had a 6-4 advantage. Taylor Keinath added onto that lead in the bottom of the sixth with a two-run home run, her first as a Gael, to cap off the scoring at 8-4.
 
MORE DRAMA
As if the first six innings weren't enough, the seventh featured plenty of tension. A walk allowed by Vasquez began the final frame, and with one out, Vasquez hit a batter to put two on. That brought Avrey Wolverton out of the bullpen, and she quickly gave up a bloop single to load the bases with one out. With the tying run at the plate, Wolverton got a strikeout and a pop out to end the game at 8-4, securing the fourth win of the year for Vasquez and the first save of the season for SMC. Including the rain delay, it took 5:45 for Saint Mary's to get the first conference win of the year.
 
UPDATED SCHEDULE
Saint Mary's and San Diego will now finish up their three-game series on Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 10:00 am. Rain should not be a factor, making it a pleasant morning and afternoon at Cottrell Field. Fans are encouraged to wear red for Paint Moraga Red Day, and all children in attendance will be invited to participate in an Easter Egg Hunt following the games.