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SMC California Athletics

Saint Mary's College Athletics Gaels
Nathan Chong Post Home Run Swing vs Air Force
Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner
4
Winner Gonzaga GON 7-14
3
Saint Mary's SMC 13-10
Winner
Gonzaga GON
7-14
4
Final
3
Saint Mary's SMC
13-10
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Gonzaga GON 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 8 1
Saint Mary's SMC 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 3 7 1

W: Justin Feld (2-1) L: Eaquinto, Derik (2-1) S: Erik Hoffberg (1)

Game Recap: Baseball |

BSB | Gaels Late Rally Comes Up Short vs Gonzaga

MORAGA, Calif. — Saint Mary's Baseball (13-10, 2-2 WCC) welcomed Gonzaga (7-14, 4-0 WCC) to Brother Ronald Gallagher Stadium for their conference home opener. The Bulldogs quickly wore out their welcome, hanging a four spot up in the first innings. The Gaels would right the ship, not surrendering a single run for the remainder of the contest, but the offense was stymied by the Bulldog's pitching staff, mustering up three runs, but falling just short, 4-3. 

Four hits and an Gael error netted the Bulldogs a 4-0 lead in the blink of an eye against ace Derik Eaquinto. Head Coach Eric Valenzuela opted to stick it out with his ace rather than making this a bullpen game, and that decision paid dividends. Following the rocky first frame, Eaquinto hung up seven consecutive zeros on the board, surrendering just four hits through his final seven innings worked. 

The Gaels got on the board in sixth, when Ryan Pierce lifted an opposite field blast over the right field fence. In the eighth inning, Gonzaga brought their closer out of the bullpen with a three run lead, in search of a six out save. The first inning was smooth sailing for the closer, but the Gaels offense finally came to life in the ninth. Brian Duroff led off the inning with a single, and with one away, Nathan Chong uncorked on a ball, traveling 416 feet over the right field fence to bring the Gaels within one. The Bulldogs again went to the pen, and while the Gaels next two batters, Connor Harrison and Aiden Taurek, both struck the ball well, they were nothing more than loud outs, as Gonzaga earned the win to remain unbeaten in conference play. 

Jared Mettam was the lone Gael to record a multi-hit ballgame, with a pair of singles in three trips to the plate. Nathan Chong homered for the second consecutive game, and third time in his past four games. He has six long balls on the season. Ryan Pierce's home run was his fifth of the season, and his first in nearly four weeks. Derik Eaquinto's eight innings pitched tied his career long, also pitching eight innings against Xavier last season. 

The Gaels will have two more chances against Gonzaga, taking on the Bulldogs tomorrow at 3 PM and Saturday at 1 PM. 

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