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Odhi Vasquez Pitch vs Marist
Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner

Softball

SB | Gaels Head to Sacramento for Two Before Returning Home for Idaho State

MORAGA, Calif. — After a perfect 5-0 week at home, the Saint Mary's Gaels (17-9) will be back on the road for a doubleheader with the Sacramento State Hornets, followed by a home doubleheader against Idaho State. Already on a historic pace, the Gaels will look to reach win number 20 this week. 

DEFENDING THE HOME DIAMOND
Although the Gaels have had just seven opportunities to play at Cottrell Field this season, they have gone unbeaten in those seven chances, including a perfect 5-0 week last week. The Gaels have outscored their opponent 45-18 in their seven home matchups. In the home games this season, Hannah Ferguson and Sam Buckley have combined to go 24-for-41 (.585) at the plate. Buckley has racked up seven extra base hits, six RBI and boasts an on base+slugging of 1.974. Tori Cervantes has driven in a team high seven runs, while Angelina Franco and Camille Lara have each driven in five. In the circle, Mia Nishikawa is 4-0 at home with a 1.66 ERA, which is still the highest ERA on the staff. Chelsea Bennet, Avrey Wolverton and Odhi Vasquez have combined to give up just two earned runs all season at Cottrell. 

OUR HERO ALEX
Alex Cutonilli logged not one, but two walk off hits over the Gaels last three contests. First, against North Dakota State, Cutonilli bashed a deep single to the opposite field, plating Tori Cervantes in the bottom of the seventh in the Gaels 1-0 victory over the Bison. A little over 24 hours later, Cutonilli again got a chance to be the hero, and delivered, as she stepped up in the bottom of the eighth down two, with the tying run at third and the winning run at first. This time, Cutonilli launched a ball over the left fielders head, plating both runners, Cervantes and Sam Buckley to once again win the game for the Gaels. Only a true freshman, Cutonilli has proven to have the composure of a veteran in these big game situations. 

ABOUT THE HORNETS
Like the Gaels, the Sacramento State Hornets are off to an excellent start, sitting at 18-10. In her 11th season at the helm, Head Coach Lori Perez is approaching the 300 win mark (268) and is coming off of a 2023 regular season Big Sky Conference Title. Fifth year infielder Lewa Day has put together a brilliant start to her season with a .373 average and a team-high nine home runs and 32 RBI. In the circle, the Hornets rely on another veteran, fourth year senior Marissa Bertuccio, who holds a 9-3 record and a 1.81 ERA in 16 appearances. These matchups will be the 92nd and 93rd all-time in program history, with the Hornets leading the series 65-25-1. Last year, the Hornets took three of four against the Gaels, with the Gaels getting the best of the Hornets in Moraga on May 5, 5-2. 

ABOUT THE BENGALS
Idaho State will have one final week of road games before getting their first chance to play at home in Pocatello. For their prolonged season-opening road trip, the Bengals are 16-13, and will take on Utah State on Tuesday before squaring off with the Gaels. Andrew Rich is in his third season as the Bengals Head Coach, and is on pace for his third 20+ win season in as many tries. Junior outfielder Gracie Smith has had a breakout season for the Bengals, with a .427 batting average, five home runs, 22 runs scored 21 RBI and 14 stolen bases, all team highs. The Bengals use a starting rotation of three different pitchers, led by freshman Marley Goluskin, who has a 5-4 record and a 2.79 ERA. The Gaels are 6-2 all-time vs the Bengals, with their last meeting coming in 2020 and resulting in a 12-3 Gaels victory.  

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Players Mentioned

Angelina Franco

#13 Angelina Franco

C
5' 5"
Junior
Avrey Wolverton

#56 Avrey Wolverton

P
5' 5"
Redshirt Freshman
Odhi Vasquez

#8 Odhi Vasquez

RHP
5' 6"
Freshman
Tori Cervantes

#18 Tori Cervantes

INF
5' 7"
Freshman
Hannah Ferguson

#19 Hannah Ferguson

OF
5' 7"
Freshman
Camille Lara

#43 Camille Lara

OF
5' 2"
Freshman
Sam Buckley

#15 Sam Buckley

INF
5' 7"
Freshman
Alex Cutonilli

#17 Alex Cutonilli

INF
5' 6"
Freshman
Mia Nishikawa

#20 Mia Nishikawa

P
5' 6"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Angelina Franco

#13 Angelina Franco

5' 5"
Junior
C
Avrey Wolverton

#56 Avrey Wolverton

5' 5"
Redshirt Freshman
P
Odhi Vasquez

#8 Odhi Vasquez

5' 6"
Freshman
RHP
Tori Cervantes

#18 Tori Cervantes

5' 7"
Freshman
INF
Hannah Ferguson

#19 Hannah Ferguson

5' 7"
Freshman
OF
Camille Lara

#43 Camille Lara

5' 2"
Freshman
OF
Sam Buckley

#15 Sam Buckley

5' 7"
Freshman
INF
Alex Cutonilli

#17 Alex Cutonilli

5' 6"
Freshman
INF
Mia Nishikawa

#20 Mia Nishikawa

5' 6"
Freshman
P