NORTHRIDGE, Calif. — Saint Mary's (11-7) made their way to the San Fernando Valley to take on the CSUN Matadors (15-4) on Thursday. Due to heavy rains the evening before, first pitch was pushed back nearly two hours for field maintenance, but around 12:15 PM, first pitch was delivered despite an initial scheduled first pitch time of 10:30. The Gaels were limited to just one hit and three base runners by a stellar CSUN pitching outing, ultimately falling 5-1 to the Matadors. 

The Gaels fell behind 1-0 in the first, but drew level in the second, when Tori Cervantes led off the inning with a walk, and was doubled in by Taylor Lane, the Gaels lone hit of the contest. That was all that Saint Mary's could muster up offensively, as they would not see another runner reach base until the seventh, another walk issued to Cervantes. 

Chelsea Bennett made her second start in the circle, and put together four innings of work. After a rocky start, surrendering three runs and five hits in the first two innings, Bennett calmed down to retire seven in a row between the last outs of the second and fourth innings. One more run would come across, charged as an unearned run to Bennett, as she ultimately gave way to Mia Nishikawa in the fifth. Nishikawa pitched the final two innings of the contest, surrendering no runs on a pair of hits, bringing her ERA back below 2.00. 

With her RBI double in the second, Taylor Lane moved to double-digit RBI territory, with her 10th. She joins Sam Buckley (16) and Tori Cervantes (14) in the double-digit RBI club. Marissa Montelongo remained perfect in the field, with three successful putouts. 

The Gaels will be back in action tomorrow to kick off a three game set with UC Riverside. First pitch is set for 1 PM tomorrow, before a doubleheader on Saturday.

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