MORAGA, Calif. – Saint Mary's Baseball returns home for a Tuesday afternoon tilt with San Jose State, before embarking on a trip across the country to play the No. 4 Florida Gators this coming weekend.
 
THE DETAILS
Saint Mary's (8-3) vs. San Jose State (4-7)
March 5, Brother Ronal Gallagher Stadium – Moraga, Calif.
Tuesday, 2:00 PM | WATCH | LIVE STATS | TICKETS
 
Saint Mary's (8-3) at. Florida (8-3)
March 8-10, Condron Family Ballpark – Gainesville, Fla.
Friday, 3:30 PM | WATCH | LIVE STATS |
Saturday, 3:30 PM | WATCH | LIVE STATS |
Sunday, 10:00 AM | WATCH | LIVE STATS |
 
LAST TIME OUT
Saint Mary's Baseball took three of four games at Seattle University last weekend, winning the finale 15-4 to secure their third-straight series win to start the season. The Gaels racked up 13 hits for their 15 runs, pouncing on any mistake the Redhawks made to increase their advantage.
 
Christian Almanza's monster weekend in Seattle has earned him the Rawlings WCC Player of the Week for March 4 after hitting four home runs in four games at Seattle University.
 
Almanza was 8 for 15 over the weekend, good for a .533 average with nine RBIs, five runs scored, and only two strikeouts. His extra-base hit barrage included 2 doubles and a triple along with the four dingers.
 
The Stockton, Calif. native got the scoring started in Seattle with a solo home run in the first inning of Friday's game, and the Gaels would go on to win 5-0. He hit two home runs in SMC's 8-1 win in game two of the series, and he had a two-run shot in game three as well to help bring the Gaels back from a 7-2 deficit in an 11-10 loss. Last year's WCC Co-Player of the Year finished with an RBI double and a walk in Saint Mary's series clinching 15-4 win on Sunday to round out his big series.
 
ABOUT SAN JOSE STATE
The San José State baseball team was picked to win the Mountain West entering the 2024 campaign, as the Spartans aim to defend their Mountain West regular season and tournament championships from 2023.
 
They earned a spot in the NCAA Stanford Regional where they were the No. 4 seed along with Stanford, Texas A&M and Cal State Fullerton, and Head Coach Brad Sanfilippo was named the 2023 Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year.
 
Theo Hardy, Hunter Dorraugh, Robert Hamchuk and Micky Thompson were also named to the Preseason All-Mountain West Team, as the Spartans four players chosen were the most in the Mountain West.
 
 
ABOUT FLORIDA
The Gators were picked to win the Eastern Division of the SEC, the final year of the two-division set up for the Southeast Conference.
 
In addition to receiving 11 first place votes to win the East and another two to win the conference outright, a league-high four Gators were named First Team Preseason All-SEC: first baseman Jac Caglianone, second baseman Cade Kurland, shortstop Colby Shelton and relief pitcher Brandon Neely. No other school placed more than two players on the first team.
 
In addition to being first team at first base, Caglianone also earned a second team nod as a starting pitcher. All four players who received honors are first-time Preseason All-SEC recipients. He was named SEC Co-Pitcher of the Week on Monday afternoon following his stellar, series-clinching outing at Miami.
 
Although the news represents Caglianone's third-career SEC weekly accolade, it is the first time the southpaw has been named SEC Pitcher of the Week. Caglianone received two SEC Player of the Week nods last season (Feb. 27, March 27) and follows teammate Liam Peterson in collecting recognition this year, who was named SEC Co-Freshman of the Week seven days ago on Feb. 26.
 
Caglianone dominated in his decisive Sunday start at Miami over the weekend. With the series tied at one game apiece, the Tampa, Fla native chucked six shutout innings on three hits and two walks. He had that many hits himself on the other side of the ball, going 3-for-5 at the plate highlighted by a solo home run.
 
Caglianone struck out a career-high 11 batters en route to earning the victory against the Hurricanes to improve to 1-0 on the season. He limited Miami to a .143 batting average and had a one-hitter going through five frames.
 
Saint Mary's full schedule can be viewed here and season tickets can be purchased by clicking here. 
 
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