FRESNO, Calif. — The Gaels (5-5) saw both Mia Nishikawa and Odhi Vasquez toss complete game gems against the host Fresno State Bulldogs (6-4), splitting their getaway day doubleheader with a 7-4 victory and a 1-0 defeat. At 5-5, the Gaels have matched their best 10 game start since the 2021 season. 

GAME ONE: SMC 7 - FSU 4
The Gaels took momentum from the start in their first matchup against the Bulldogs. Tori Cervantes got things going in the top of the first, lacing a two out, two RBI triple to the right centerfield gap, then scoring on a Jenavee Amador single. Marissa Montelongo blasted her first career home run in the second, and Cervantes scored on a Victoria Castillo sacrifice bunt in the third to give the Gaels their largest lead at 6-1. The Bulldogs would plate three more runs in the fifth and sixth innings to cut the deficit to two, but Alex Cutonilli delivered a pinch hit, RBI double in the top of the seventh, and Mia Nishikawa delivered a one-two-three bottom half to earn the complete game victory. 

ON-BASE QUEENS
Every spot in the Gaels lineup reached base at least once in game one of today's doubleheader. Leading the way were Tori Cervantes and Jenavee Amador, who both made it on base three times. Cervantes logged a double and a triple, while also reaching via the hit by pitch, scoring twice, while Amador singled three times. As a team, the Gaels had a .472 on-base percentage in game one today. 

NISHIKAWA GOES THE DISTANCE
For the second time this weekend, and in her young collegiate career, Mia Nishikawa tossed a complete game, earning her second W of the season. Nishikawa surrendered just two runs through the first five innings, but ran into a little bit of trouble in the sixth when two unearned runs scored to bring the score to 6-4. The Bulldogs would proceed to load the bases in the sixth, but Nishikawa would induce an inning ending flyout to keep the Gaels ahead. To close out the game, the freshman would retire the Bulldogs in order to pick up her second victory of the weekend. 

GAME TWO: FSU 1 - SMC 0
Odhi Vasquez and Fresno State's Taylor Gilmore locked in a pitcher's duel in this one, with the Bulldogs narrowly edging out the Gaels, 1-0. A solo shot by the Bulldogs in the bottom of the sixth would prove to be the difference. The Gaels would put a runner in scoring position in four different innings, but never could pick up the hit that would take the goose egg off the scoreboard. 

ODHI MAKES HERSELF AT HOME
In their third true road game of the season, the Gaels once again looked comfortable against a host school. In their season opener at UC Davis, the Gaels turned to Odhi Vasquez, who tossed a one hit shutout, leading the Gaels to the 6-0 victory. Game two today against the Bulldogs also featured Odhi in the circle, and again she looked comfortable as ever hanging up zeroes in the bottom half of innings. Vasquez surrendered just one run, a solo home run in the bottom of the six, but still went the distance, surrendering just the lone run on five hits and one walk. Vasquez entered the day as the Gaels leader in walks allowed, but walked just one in the complete game outing, demonstrating excellent command of her entire arsenal of pitches. 

DUCKS IN A ROW
The Gaels had multiple opportunities to strike on the scoreboard in this one, putting runners in scoring position in innings two through five. Hannah Ferguson, Tori Cervantes and Victoria Castillo all made it to at least second base, with Ferguson doing so twice. Each one of those runners also swiped a bag, with Ferguson and Cervantes each stealing two for a season-high five stolen bases in the game. 

UP NEXT
The Gaels will continue competition in California's Central Valley, next competing in the Welter Classic, hosted by CSU Bakersfield. The Gaels will take on both Montana and CSU Bakersfield on both day one and day two of the tournament. 

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