MORAGA, Calif. — The Saint Mary's Gael (11-5) brought their red hot road show to the friendly confines of Cottrell Field, and picked up their first two wins at home, defeating the Wagner Seahawks (2-4) 5-1 and 6-1. Dodging storm clouds all day, the Gaels were able to win their first game in the full seven innings, while earning the second win in five after the game was ended early due to rain. The Gaels looked in command for the first pitch of game one, and moved their winning streak to six in a row.
GAME ONE: SMC 5 - Wagner 1
The Gaels jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, which was all the offense that Mia Nishikawa would need, tossing the complete game, surrendering just one run in the process. The Gaels would strike for three more insurance runs in the later innings, but Nishikawa made sure that that's all those runs were, as she ticked her ERA down even further below the 2.00 mark.
THREE OF A KIND
The Gaels had a trio of freshmen with multihit ballgames in the game one's victory. Sam Buckley continued to be the unsung offensive leader for the Gaels, going 2-2 with a double, a triple, two runs scored and an RBI, while also drawing a walk. Buckley continues to log more extra base hits than singles, with 10 of her 16 hits being of the extra base variety. Alex Cutonilli, now firmly solidified as the Gaels everyday DP, also logged a pair of hits, a single and a double. Last, but certainly not least, Camille Lara logged her first career extra base hit, a double, and then laced another double, scoring a run and driving in a run in the process. This season, Gaels freshman have accounted for 38 hits, 23 runs scored and 25 RBI.
THREE IN A ROW
Mia Nishikawa has worked three straight complete game victories, bringing her to a 4-1 record and a 1.75 ERA. Today, Nishikawa's lone blemish was a solo home run allowed in the sixth inning. Beyond that, the freshman out of Fresno surrendered just three singles and two walks, while fanning four. Over a team-high 40 innings pitched, Nishikawa leads the Gaels in ERA (1.75), wins (4) and WHIP (0.98).
GAME TWO: SMC 6 - Wagner 1
Taking advantage of a pair of Wagner errors, the Gaels pushed across two unearned runs early. Wagner responded with one in the top of the fifth before the Gaels strung together five hits, pushing across four runs in the bottom half to open things up to a 6-1 lead. Like the lead, the skies opened up in the top of the sixth, forcing the umpires to call the game in favor of the Gaels, 6-1.
FRANCO PRODUCES
Senior catcher Angelina Franco had her most productive game of the season, going 1-2 with a rocket double to left, a sac fly and two RBI. Franco, who started her season 1-18, got of the schneid with a double in the second, hitting the wall on the fly, and narrowly missing going over the fence for a home run. The double did plate Taylor Lane. Then, in the fourth, Franco laced a liner into left with Tori Cervantes standing at third. While the ball was caught, it gave more than enough time for Cervantes to score on a sacrifice fly. The Gaels first two runs of the victory were both courtesy of Franco, who set the tone for the Gaels offensively.
WOLVERTON REMAINS UNBEATEN
Avrey Wolverton drew the start in game two, and despite allowing an unearned run, earned her third victory of the season. The redshirt sophomore has not lost a decision this season, with her last loss coming on 4/29/23. Avrey also tied a career-high with seven strikeouts, in just 5.1 innings. It certainly seemed as though she was on pace to break that if the game went the full seven.
UP NEXT
The Gaels will host the 23rd ranked Cal Bears at Cottrell Field on Tuesday, March 5. First pitch is set for 3 PM.
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