MORAGA, Calif. — Just two days after splitting a doubleheader with one of the 2023 Big Sky Conference Co-Champions (Sacramento State), the Gaels (19-11) split another doubleheader with Idaho State (17-15), the other 2023 Big Sky Conference Co-Champion. The Gaels played 13 innings of solid softball, but one big inning from Idaho State eventually forced the doubleheader split.
GAME ONE: SMC 3, ISU 0
Odhi Vasquez pitched the Gaels to the shutout victory, her second one hit shutout of the campaign. The Gaels struck for all three of their runs in the second, and with the way Odhi was pitching, three runs were more than enough for Odhi to pitch the team to victory.
Idaho State retired the first four Gaels batters of the game, but that streak ended when Tori Cervantes ripped a one out single to left center with one way. Cervantes stole second, and, with two away, Angelina Franco singled her home. The Gaels weren't done there, however. Taylor Lane pulled a double down the left field line, moving Franco to third, and Gracie Carpenter walked to load the bases for the top of the order and Hannah Ferguson. Ferguson smacked a single back up the middle, plating two to put Saint Mary's ahead 3-0, where the lead would stay for the remainder of the contest.
Vasquez fanned 12 in the one hit shutout effort, setting a new season-high, and falling just two short of her career-high. She now leads the Gaels with a 1.95 ERA, a 0.162 batting average against, and 50 strikeouts. Ferguson's two RBI pushed her to 12 on the season, good for third on the team.
GAME TWO: ISU 7, SMC 2
After being held scoreless in game one, the Bengals responded with two early runs in the third. The Gaels drew level in the bottom of the frame, but ISU put a five spot up in the fourth that was enough to charge them to victory.
Down 2-0, Claudia Kirchner pinch hit for Gracie Carpenter, was hit by a pitch, and then was run for by Carpenter. Hannah Ferguson slapped a double to left, putting two runners in scoring position with nobody out. Unfortunately, Carpenter was thrown out at the plate attempting to score on a sacrifice fly, and the Gaels quickly found themselves with one on and two away. Marissa Montelongo became the second plunked batter of the inning, and stole second to once again put runners at second and third, and this time, Sam Buckley cashed those runners in. Buckley skied a ball to deep right, over the right fielder's head, and legged out a triple, knotting the game up at two apiece.
The Bengals hung up five runs in the fourth, and the Gaels opted to close the game with Chelsea Bennett in the circle. Bennett did her part, not allowing a run across over her 3.2 innings of work, but the offense could not rally behind her, as the Gaels eventually fell 7-2.
Camille Lara and Marissa Montelongo combined to go 5-for-7 at the plate in the two and three spots in the lineup, with Montelongo going a perfect 3-3. Sam Buckley laced her sixth triple of the season, moving her into a tie for 10th overall in program history and third in single season history at Saint Mary's.
UP NEXT
The Gaels will take the weekend off and next be in action on Tuesday in Reno, taking on the Nevada Wolfpack. First pitch of the March 26 doubleheader will be at 1 PM.
#GaelsRise
