MORAGA, Calif. — Saint Mary's Softball (21-15) saw a pair of brilliant pitching performances in their conference opening doubleheader against Pacific (12-27), taking the first 6-1 before dropping the second 3-2 in nine innings. The Gaels will now need to win both of their remaining weekend matchups with the Tigers in order to secure their fourth straight series victory over Pacific. 

GAME ONE: SMC 6, PAC 1
Mia Nishikawa was brilliant in her first career WCC start, going the complete seven innings, surrendering just one run on six hits, while striking out two and walking none. Nishikawa did an excellent job mixing her speeds and pitch placement, keeping the Tigers bats at bay all game long. 

Saint Mary's jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the second when Jenavee Amador came around to score on a throwing error by the Tigers third baseman to break up the scoreless stalemate, and Taylor Lane singled Tori Cervantes home on the very next pitch. The Tigers would respond with one in the top of the third. 

The Gaels blew things open in the third, when Cervantes came up to the dish with Sam Buckley on third and Alex Cutonilli on second, and launched a ball the other way to right and legged out a two RBI triple. Cervantes would then beat out the throw on a fielder's choice off the bat of Taylor Lane for another insurance run, as the Gaels led 5-1. Buckley would double and score on an Amador single one frame later to give Nishikawa a five run lead, that she would protect en route to her ninth victory of the season.

Tori Cervantes was the Gaels offensive standouts, with two hits, two runs scored and two runs driven in. Sam Buckley also had a pair of knocks and a pair of runs scored, while Taylor Lane drove in two runs. 

GAME TWO: PAC 3, SMC 2 (9 INNINGS)
Game two featured an Avrey/Avery battle, as Avrey Prescott and Pacific ace Avery Croxall locked in an extra innings pitching duel. Both dazzled in the circle, with the Tigers coming back from an early 2-1 deficit to take the win 3-2 in nine. 

Saint Mary's fell into an early 1-0 hole in the top of the first, but that changed with one Sam Buckley swing of the bat. With two away in the bottom half, Marissa Montelongo was plunked by a pitch, bringing Buckley to the plate, who launched a towering home run to right center to give the Gaels the lead at 2-1. 

Buckley's homer would prove to be the Gaels only hit through five innings, as Pacific knotted things up with a home run of their own in the top of the sixth. Neither team could score in the seventh, forcing us to extra frames. 

The Gaels looked like they would walk things off in the bottom of the eighth. Taylor Lane led off the inning with a single, and was pinch run for by Marissa Nishihara. Victoria Castillo bunted her to second, and Hannah Ferguson reached on an infield single to put runners at the corners with one out. Camille Lara hit the first pitch she saw to the shortstop, playing at double play depth. The Tigers shortstop Rian Dirmeyer, realizing that Lara would be a tough turn for two, instead fired the ball home, and catcher Nina Davis applied the tag on a sliding Nishihara in time to record the second out. The Gaels threat would go for naught in the eighth, and the Tigers would plate one on a sacrifice fly in the ninth. 

Janavee Amador and Tori Cervantes would both reach via the free pass in the bottom of the ninth, and with two outs, Taylor Lane gave the ball a pretty good ride to right center, but it was caught to retire the side, as the Tigers notched their first road win of the season, bringing the series event to a game apiece.   

Sam Buckley's home run was her first at Cottrell Field and her third of the season. Avrey Wolverton had one of her best outings this season, tossing all nine innings and surrendering three earned runs on five hits with four strikeouts and three walks, bringing her career ERA down to a stellar 2.61. 

The Gaels will get two more in against the Tigers, scheduled for noon on Saturday and Sunday. Weather could potentially force a doubleheader on Sunday if conditions make it unplayable tomorrow. 

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