MORAGA, Calif. – The Saint Mary's Baseball program begins their 2024 campaign with a fresh excitement provided by familiar faces, looking to build on last year's strong finish.
 
The Gaels will play their first season in Brother Ronald Gallagher Stadium beginning February 16 against Oakland University. Rain in the forecast has led to an altering of the opening-weekend schedule, as the Gaels will now play a double header on Friday, have Saturday off, and then play at noon on Sunday.
 
THE DETAILS
Saint Mary's (0-0) vs. Oakland University (0-0)
February 16 and 18, Louis Guisto Field at Brother Ronald Gallagher Stadium – Moraga, Calif.
Friday, 10:00 AM | WATCH | LIVE STATS | TICKETS
Friday, 1:40 PM | WATCH | LIVE STATS | TICKETS
Sunday, 12:00 PM | WATCH | LIVE STATS |TICKETS
 
BACK IN THE RING
Head Coach Eric Valenzuela returns to SMC after spending the last four years at Long Beach State where he amassed a 100-69 record. In his first tenure at SMC, he led the Gaels to four-straight 30-win seasons and the programs first ever WCC Championship in 2016, along with making the conference championship game in 2019.
 
Valenzuela went 180-156 in his first stint at Saint Mary's, and was named the 2016 WCC Coach of the Year after leading the Gaels to series victories in eight of nine WCC series, as well as wins over five eventual NCAA Tournament teams in that championship season.

"We're very excited to be back in Moraga where I feel it's such a superb fit for me and my family," Valenzuela added. "I love the fact that were under the radar a little bit. We like playing the underdog role and think this group has a lot of fire and excitement, because they want to win."
 
Eleven Gaels were selected in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft that played for Valenzuela, including six in the top-10 rounds. He coached three All-Americans and 10 All-WCC first team players in that time.
 
The Gaels collected 22 total All-WCC awards under Valenzuela, including five second team honors, nine honorable mention accolades and seven WCC All-Freshmen team honorees. SMC players also garnered 25 total WCC All-Academic awards, including 10 first team honors and 15 honorable mention recognitions during that time. Valenzuela engineered a remarkable turnaround of the Saint Mary's baseball program, turning SMC into an annual contender after it posted just three .500-or-better seasons in the 22 years before his arrival.
 
"The biggest thing for us in this first year back, is taking it really slow," Coach Valenzuela said. "It's never easy for a coaching change in any capacity, so first and foremost were trying to build relationships and trust with our players, and not overload them with too much."
 
KEY RETURNERS
The Gaels are coming off a trip to the semifinals of the WCC tournament after upending top-seed LMU, and if opening-day starter Derik Eaquinto hadn't been lost to a mid-season injury, it's quite possible they could have gotten even further. Saint Mary's also returns the majority of an offense that hit 76 home runs last year for a Saint Mary's single-season record.
 
Those returners include WCC Co-Conference Player of the year Christian Almanza, as well as left fielder Coleman Schmidt. They tied for the second-most home runs in a single season in SMC history in 2023 with 16, trailing only Troy Channing's 20 long balls in 2009.
 
Along with Eaquinto's return, the Gaels will also have Connor Linchey back on the mound, who became the Friday starter and went 5-1 with a 3.11 ERA in 15 games with 11 starts. Five members of last year's bullpen who had sub-4.00 ERAs are back for 2024 as well.
 
Almanza, Schmidt, and Linchey were named to the WCC All-Preseason Team, and the Gaels were picked to finish in a tie for fourth in the conference preseason coaches' poll.
 
NEWCOMERS TO WATCH
The Gaels brought in a new crop of freshman, but also transfers that could contribute to the team this season.
 
Corner infielder Ryan Pierce redshirted at Fresno State, before playing the last two seasons at Los Medanos Community College. Pierce hit .387 average with 14 home runs and 57 RBIs as a freshman and .426 average 17 homers with 70 RBIs as a sophomore.
 
Pitcher Connor Kinney comes to the Gaels from Division-3 Tufts University as a grad transfer. The Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. native returns to the West Coast after putting up a 3.77 ERA in 88.1 career innings. He was named to the New England Small College Athletic Conference Second Team and the American Baseball Coaches Association All-Region Third Team.
 
Local product Connor "Bear" Harrison comes to SMC after a decorated career at De La Salle High with the ability to fill multiple roles. The Danville, Calif. native has caught, pitched, and played first base.
 
Harrison's high school accolades include being named the 49ers Cal Hi Sports NCS Player of the year, Bay Area News Group Player of the year, West Coast Preps Baseball Athlete of the year, First Team MaxPreps California All-State Team, East Bay League (EBAL) MVP, and the De La Salle Baseball MVP. As a senior he hit .342/.417/.521 with five home runs, 15 doubles, and 57 RBI.
 
ABOUT OAKLAND UNIVERSITY
Since the program made the jump to Division I in 1998, the Golden Grizzlies are coming off their best two-season stretch in team history. In its last two seasons, the team has accumulated 60 wins for the most in a two-year span. Among those 60 were 40 Horizon League wins, which included the conference tournament, as the team has made it to the championship game both years.
 
The Golden Grizzlies return a trio of All-Horizon League performers from a year ago in outfielder Ian Cleary, reliever Brandon Decker and starter Hunter Pidek, as well as third baseman/right-handed pitcher Brandon Nigh, fellow righty Sean Fekete, catcher Brandon Heidal and All-Freshman Team center fielder Reggie Bussey.
 
Heidal is widely touted as the best defensive catcher in the league. Last season, he was one of only three Golden Grizzlies to play in all 60 games, 57 of which were starts, and allowed only three passed balls all season while throwing out 35.4 percent (23-65) of opposing base stealers.
 
Pidek emerged as the Golden Grizzlies ace and earned Second Team All-Horizon League honors after he went 3-2 with a 4.02 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and a 56/15 K/BB ratio across 71.2 innings in 13 appearances (12 starts).
 
Decker won Horizon League Reliever of the Year and was First Team All-Conference after going 8-3 and tallying five saves. With a 4.39 ERA, 1.48 WHIP and 71 strikeouts over 69.2 innings, all 25 of his appearances came out of the bullpen.
 
Saint Mary's full schedule can be viewed here and season tickets can be purchased by clicking here. 
 
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