MORAGA, Calif. – The Saint Mary's Gaels (15-9) continued to defend their home diamond, defeating Marist (18-6) and North Dakota State (11-19) on day one of the SMC Round Robin 4-1 and 1-0 respectively. The Gaels received two momentous pitching performances, surrendering just one run in the pair of contests, while the offense provided clutch hits to power SMC to the unbeaten day one. 

GAME ONE: SMC 4 - MAR 1
After Marist defeated North Dakota State in game one of the event, the Red Foxes were the first to get a crack at the Gaels on the home turf. Odhi Vasquez got the nod in the circle and was lights out, surrendering no runs and four hits through the first six innings, while striking out six and walking three. 

The Gaels offense was stymied until the fifth inning. Alex Cutonilli got the party started with a one out double down the right field line, and was pinch run for by Gracie Carpenter. The Gaels would then walk out Odhi Vasquez to pinch hit for Victoria Castillo. Carpenter advanced to third on a wild pitch, and Vasquez would hit a soft ground ball that forced the Red Foxes to throw home. Carpenter slid under the tag and the Gaels hit the board first. Castillo re entered to run for Vasquez and Hannah Ferguson and Camille Lara would bang back to back singles to load the bases. Marissa Montelongo elevated a pitch to left field, deep enough to score Castillo, and Sam Buckley would rocket a triple to the right centerfield gap, plating Ferguson and Lara, and just like that, the Gaels led 4-0. 

Vasquez found herself in a bit of trouble in the final frame, as she loaded the bases with one out. A meeting with Head Coach Sonja Garnett and catcher Angelina Franco calmed her down, as she rolled two ground balls, surrendering a run, but ending the game with the Gaels on top 4-1 for her fifth victory of the season. 

Hannah Ferguson and Sam Buckley led the offense with, each with a pair of hits, as the top four batters in the lineup (Ferguson, Lara, Montelongo, Buckley) went 6-10 with two runs scored and three runs driven in. Buckley moved her impressive RBI total to 18, still leading the Gaels. Odhi Vasquez worked her fifth complete game in six starts, picking up win number five for the season. She surpassed the five strikeout mark for the third time this season, moving her season total to a team-high 33. 

GAME TWO: SMC 1 - NDSU 0
A pitcher's dual of epic proportions is what fans were treated to in game two, as freshmen Addie Bowers and Mia Nishikawa locked in one for the ages. Nishikawa went the complete seven innings, tossing just 77 pitches, fanning three, and surrendering six hits and a walk, but stranding all eight base runners that reached base against her. That said, through six and a half innings, we remained locked in a scoreless stalemate.

Tori Cervantes led off the bottom of the seventh and laced a single to left field. With one away, Cervantes stole second, putting herself in scoring position. Angelina Franco lifted a ball to deep left, advancing Cervantes to third, and bringing Alex Cutonilli to the plate with two outs. The freshman saw three pitches before lifting a deep fly ball to right, evading the grasp of the right fielder, and scoring Cervantes to end the game 1-0 in favor of the Gaels. 

The Gaels logged just four hits in the game, with the biggest being Cutonilli's walk off single. The Tori Cervantes stolen base in the seventh was her 10th of the season, moving her into double-digit territory for the year alongside Hannah Ferguson (11) and Marissa Montelongo (15). Freshman phenom Mia Nishikawa worked her third complete game shutout of the season, picking up her team-leading sixth win today. 

UP NEXT
The Gaels will take on North Dakota State and Marist once again tomorrow. NDSU will be up first at 12:30 PM, with Marist taking place at approximately 3 PM. 

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