MORAGA, Calif. – After a pair of pitching and defense type of games on Friday, the offense came to life to the tune of 24 runs over the Gaels (17-9) two games Saturday, as they bested the North Dakota State Bison (12-20) 12-2 and the Marist Red Foxes (18-8) 12-11 in extras, to move to 4-0 in the SMC Round Robin. The Gaels bashed out 31 hits including eight extra base hits on the perfect weekend. 

GAME ONE: SMC 12, NDSU 2 (5 INNINGS)
After a momentous 2-0 victory over Marist, the Bison of North Dakota State looked primed and ready for another pitcher's dual, but got a rude awakening when the Gaels strung together the first four hits of the game, including a two RBI double from Sam Buckley. A Tori Cervantes sacrifice fly and an Alex Cutonilli RBI single would plate two more and the Gaels were out ahead 4-0 in the blink of an eye.

Believe it or not, the four run first was not the big inning for the Gaels. That, instead, belonged to the second inning, where the Gaels hung up an eight spot. Victoria Castillo, Hannah Ferguson and Camille Lara all singled to load the bases. Castillo scored on a wild pitch to bring the score to 5-0 in the second, before Marissa Montelongo belted a single to left field, plating Ferguson and Lara. On the same play, the ball kicked under the left fielders glove, leaving more than enough time for Montelongo to motor all the way around the base paths, bringing the scored to 8-0, but the Gaels weren't done there. Sam Buckley singled back up the middle and Tori Cervantes walked, and with one out, Angelina Franco mashed the first Gaels home run at Cottrell Field this season, a rocket over the left field fence, bringing the score to 11-0. The Gaels would bat around in the inning, as Castillo would reach on an error and Ferguson would log another infield single, with Castillo scoring on a wild pitch, resulting in the Gaels 12th run. 

Avrey Wolverton tossed a pair of scoreless, one hit innings before giving way to Chelsea Bennett in the circle. The sophomore out of Warriewood, New South Wales ran into a bit of trouble in the the third, surrendering a pair of unearned runs, but retired seven of the final eight batters she faced en route to the 12-2 run rule victory in five. 

Hannah Ferguson logged her third three hit ball game of the season, while Marissa Montelongo and Sam Buckley each drove in two. The biggest hit, however, belonged to Angelina Franco, driving in three with one big swing of the bat. The win in the circle went to Chelsea Bennett, her second of the season. 

GAME TWO: SMC 12, MAR 11 (8 INNINGS)
From blow out to nailbiter, the Gaels offense stayed hot, but the Marist Red Foxes did everything in their power to prevent Saint Mary's from winning their seventh straight at home. The Gaels jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the second innings. Sam Buckley tripled to lead off the second and scored on a Tori Cervantes homer to right center. With one away, Angelina Franco laced a single to center, and was pinch run for by Jocelyn Bryant. Bryant was advanced to second on a Taylor Lane groundout to the pitcher, and scored on a Victoria Castillo single. 

The Red Foxes responded with a solo shot from Miah McDonald in the third, but the Gaels reaffirmed their lead to three runs when Marissa Montelongo singled Hannah Ferguson home. Things went a little haywire at this point in the contest. Avrey Wolverton allowed a leadoff double in the fourth, but quickly retired the next two batters she faced. She rolled a ground ball that looked like it would end the inning, but an error would result in a Red Fox run and keep the inning alive. The next batter, Miah McDonald, blasted a three run home run, her second round tripper of the day, and the Red Foxes took their first lead at 5-4. Mia Nishikawa stepped on to relieve Wolverton, and rolled another soft grounder on the infield, again kicked by the Gaels defense, keeping the inning alive. Another two run shot for Marist, this time from Haley Ahr made it seem as though the Red Foxes had taken control. 

Playing in a hole for the first time, the Gaels were quick to dig out of it. With two outs, Castillo walked and Ferguson singled and advanced to second, bringing Camille Lara to the plate as the tying run. All game, the Red Foxes employed a large shift, playing the Gaels slap hitters with five infielders and leaving right field unoccupied. Lara took advantage of this by lacing a ball into right center and motoring all the way around the bases for a game tying inside the park home run. 

The Gaels would load the bases with no outs in the sixth, but were unable to push any across. Haley Ahr would lead off the seventh with a double and come around to score on a sacrifice fly, putting the Gaels' backs against the wall in the bottom of the seventh. With one away, Angelina Franco doubled to the left center gap, and was pinch run for by Gracie Carpenter. Taylor Lane was next due up, but Head Coach Sonja Garnett instead went to her bench and brought Odhi Vasquez to the plate. Vasquez mashed a single through the left side, scoring Carpenter and once again drew the Gaels level. Through seven full, we remained tied, and would play extras.

The Red Foxes struck quickly in the top of the eighth. A groundout moved their tie breaker runner up to third, and a double would score her. With two away, back to back doubles would bring the score to 11-8 before Nishikawa could record the final out. The Gaels would not go quietly in the bottom half. Lara was placed on second, Montelongo singled and Buckley walked to load the bases for Tori Cervantes. Cervantes ripped a single to right center, scoring Lara and Montelongo and bringing the Gaels to within one. Up stepped yesterday's hero, Alex Cutonilli. Wasting no time, Cutonilli hammered the first pitch she saw over the left fielder's head, scoring both Buckley and Cervantes to win the game. It was Cutonilli's second walk-off winner in as many days. 

Every single spot in the Gaels lineup recorded a hit, with eight players logging multi-hit ball games. Sam Buckley's three hit game brought her average to 0.422 on the season. Tori Cervantes drove in four to lead the Gaels offensively, bringing her season total to 19, one shy of Buckley for the team lead. Mia Nishikawa logged win number three of the week, tossing 4.1 innings of relief, moving to 7-3 on the campaign. 

UP NEXT
The Gaels will take their five game winning streak on the road to Sacramento, where they will play Sacramento State on Tuesday in a doubleheader affair, starting at 1 PM.

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