DAVIS, Calif. — Saint Mary's Softball (3-1) found themselves locked in a pair of tightly contested ball games on day two of the NorCal Classic, defeating San Jose State (0-4) 5-3 before falling in walk-off fashion to Cal Poly (4-0) 6-5. In both games, the Gaels rallied back from early deficits in true showings of grit and fortitude

GAME ONE: SMC 5 - SJSU 3

THE YOUNG GUN
Sam Buckley continued to wow in her second day of competition as a Gael. The freshman was once again the unsung hero for the Gaels, going 2-3 at the plate and driving in three of the Gaels five runs. She got things going in the first, when she pulled a single through the left side, plating Marissa Nishihara to erase an early 1-0 deficit. She then stepped up with two outs in the bottom of the fourth and saw seven pitches before belting a triple down the right field line, plating Nishihara and Hannah Ferguson to push the Gaels ahead 5-1. Through her first three collegiate games, Buckley is now 5-9 (0.556) at the plate with a double, a triple and five RBI. 

BENNETT SETS THE TONE, BULLPEN DOES THE REST
Sophomore Chelsea Bennett earned the start against the Spartans, just the fourth of her career. Bennett surrendered a run in the first frame, before settling in to surrender no runs through the next three innings. In the fifth, she ran into some trouble, allowing two of the first runners to reach and score. Enter freshman Braxton Brown. In each of Brown's three innings of work, she faced the tying run, but each time was able to pitch out of danger and keep the Gaels ahead. For the final out, Head Coach Sonja Garnett went to the pen one final time to bring out her ace, Avrey Wolverton, who, with two away and two on, retired the lone batter she faced to record her first save of the season. The Gaels have now seen all five of their pitchers in action through their first three games, with all five looking extremely effective in the circle. 

GAME TWO: Cal Poly 6 - SMC 5

TORI IN THE CLUTCH
Saint Mary's found themselves down 1-0 early, and 3-1 through three innings. They cut the deficit to one run when Hannah Ferguson pulled a two out single to right, plating Jocelyn Bryant. Then, in the sixth inning, Taylor Lane led off the inning with a single and was pinch run for by Gracie Carpenter. With one away, shortstop Tori Cervantes stepped up to the plate, and unloaded on a ball over the left field fence to give the Gaels a 4-3 lead, their first of the afternoon. Cervantes came into the season not known as a power hitter, but has left the yard twice in as many days, proving that she certainly has found some pop in her bat. 

UP NEXT
The Gaels will have another shot at the Mustangs tomorrow. First pitch is set for noon.

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