SAN DIEGO – Saint Mary's Baseball swept a double header at the University of San Diego on Friday to open WCC play. The Gaels came away with a pair of one-run victories, both secured in the ninth inning.
 
Due to expected rain in the San Diego area this weekend, the teams agreed to play a double header Friday, a single game at 4:00 p.m. tomorrow, and not play on Sunday.
 
GAME ONE
SMC fell behind 1-0 in the first inning of game one, but tied it up in the third on a Ryan Pierce single through the left side to score Connor "Bear" Harrison. It was Pierce's 19th RBI on the season, good for second most on the Gaels.
 
Saint Mary's would take the lead in the fourth, when Brian Duroff homered (5) to left center to lead off the inning to make it 2-1. With one out, Nathan Chong hit an opposite-field homer (4) to put the Gaels ahead 3-1.
 
The fifth inning would see the Toreros reclaim the lead with a three-run inning, stringing together base hits to tie it and taking the lead on a fielder's choice.
 
The Gaels tied the game in the seventh when Coleman Schmidt ripped a ball to left, and SMC waved home Gavin Napier from second. As Napier approached third, the San Diego third baseman got directly in his way and led to the two colliding. Though Napier was thrown out at home, the umpires correctly ruled he was interfered with and counted that run which tied the game at 4-4.
 
SMC would load the bases in the ninth after Christian Almanza singled to center, Pierce was hit by a pitch, and Duroff was intentionally walked with one out. Dalton Mashore would drive a ball out to deep left that would score Almanza on a sac fly for a 5-4 lead.
 
Ryan Wiltse would be the only reliever Saint Mary's would need, as he went the final three innings, allowing just one hit with no walks and no runs to go with four strikeouts. He would close out the game and get the win 1-2-3 ninth inning to seal the 5-4 win.
 
Derik Eaquinto pitched admirably in the start, going six innings and allowing four runs on six hits and two walks with eight strikeouts.
 
GAME TWO
The Gaels lead for almost the entire way in game two. Duroff hit another home run (6), this time a solo shot to the left of the batters' eye in center to strike first in the first.
 
Ryan Sanders pitched brilliantly in the second game, getting out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth to preserve the 1-0 lead, and exited with a runner on second with one out, when Preston Howey entered the game. After the double off Sanders, a single and another hustle double off Howey gives the Toreros their first lead of the game at 2-1.
 
San Diego's defense saved them in the top of the eighth with former Torero Chris Esquivel at second. UDS's first baseman took away an Almanza double down the line and made the throw to the covering pitcher to prevent the Gaels from tying the game.
 
But SMC would answer in the ninth. Schmidt hit a hustle double with one out to start the rally, and Duroff would reach on a throwing error by USD's third baseman, allowing Schmidt to get to third with one out.
 
The Toreros would intentionally walk Mashore to create a force play at any base, but that proved costly for USD, as Harrison laced a single to right to score Schmidt and tie the game at 2-2. Esquivel would then lift a ball to left to deep left field, and pinch runner Tanner Griffith came in to put SMC up 3-2.
 
There would no drama in the bottom of the ninth, as Howey had a 1-2-3 inning to close the door and give the Gaels the series in their WCC opener after the 3-2 win.
 
UP NEXT
Game three is set for 4:00 p.m. on Saturday at USD.
 
#GaelsRise – Saint Mary's full schedule can be viewed here and season tickets can be purchased by clicking here.