RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The Gaels (12-7) stopped their recent two game skid, defeating the UC Riverside Highlanders (4-14) 7-4 on Friday afternoon. The game marked the Gaels sixth double-digit hit ball game, as they strung together 13 en route to seven runs scored, their fourth highest total this season. 

The Gaels fell in an early 3-0 hole in the bottom of the first, but erased that deficit just half an inning later. Taylor Lane led off the second with a single and was run for by Gracie Carpenter. Carpenter advanced to second on a wild pitch, before Angelina Franco went opposite field to right for an RBI single, plating Carpenter. With two outs, Camille Lara reached on an infield single before Hannah Ferguson ripped a double to left, scoring both Franco and Lara. Ferguson was eliminated on the play trying to stretch the hit into a triple, but the second run had already crossed, bringing the score level at 3-3. The Gaels loaded the bases in the third, and Taylor Lane singled Marissa Montelongo home to give Saint Mary's their first lead of the game. Three more runs came across in the seventh on RBI from Alex Cutonilli, Franco and Victoria Castillo, as the Gaels rolled to victory.

Odhi Vasquez started in the circle, and, after surrendering three runs in the first, settled in to retire eight in a row, while allowing the Gaels to regain the lead. In total, Vasquez went the full seven, surrendering four runs (three earned) on five hits, seven strikeouts and three walks. The seven strikeouts were a new season high for Odhi. 

Marissa Montelongo, Taylor Lane, Victoria Castillo and Camille Lara all logged two hit ball games, while Hannah Ferguson and Angelina Franco both had multi-RBI games. The win was the fourth of the season for Vasquez, tying her with Mia Nishikawa for the team lead, while her seven strikeouts once again put her atop the team strikeout list this season, with 27 for the year. 

The Gaels will take on the Highlanders for a doubleheader tomorrow, starting at 11 AM.

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