MORAGA, Calif. — In a contest that featured two ties and three lead changes, the San Jose State Spartans (14-23) narrowly edged out the Saint Mary's Gaels (23-16), 5-4, returning the favor after the Gaels defeated the Spartans in game three of the season in Davis. This brings the Gaels non-conference record to 20-15 with one more non-conference matchup to go.

The Gaels could not have asked for a better start. Avrey Wolverton worked a 1-2-3 first inning, before the Gaels struck for three in the bottom half. With one away, Marissa Montelongo singled and stole second before Sam Buckley was plunked by a pitch with two away. Taylor Lane then stepped up and blasted a no doubt shot over the left field fence to give the Gaels an early 3-0 lead. 

It was smooth sailing for Wolverton through three, surrendering just one hit in that time, but in the fourth, an error, a hit batsman, a triple and a sacrifice fly netted the Spartans three runs, including two unearned, that knotted us up at three apiece. The Gaels would regain the lead in the fifth, however, when Hannah Ferguson was hit by a pitch, and Marissa Montelongo singled her to third. Odhi Vasquez was called upon to pinch hit, and lifted a pitch into right field, deep enough to score Ferguson on the sacrifice fly. 

The Spartans responded in the sixth, dealing what would be the eventual final blow. Wolverton surrendered a lead off single and a one out RBI single, as the game drew level at four apiece. On the RBI single, the Spartan baserunner advanced to third on a throw to the plate, and Wolverton was lifted from the game for Mia Nishikawa with the go-ahead run just 60 feet away from scoring. Nishikawa pitched to weak contact, as she's done all season, but surrendered a sacrifice fly allowing SJSU to take their first lead at 5-4. Nishikawa worked a scoreless top of the seventh, bringing the Gaels up to bat in the bottom half, in need of one run to extend and two to win. 

Camille Lara led off the inning with a single out of the nine hole, but was eliminated by a fielder's choice off the bat of Hannah Ferguson. Marissa Montelongo logged her fourth hit of the day, and Sam Buckley worked a two out walk to load the bases, but a Lacie Ham strikeout would end the Gaels comeback attempt, as the Spartans took the game 5-4. 

The game was the first ever four hit game for Marissa Montelongo and her second ever three stolen base game. Her batting average now sits at 0.360, good for second on the team, and her stolen base total is now 28, tied for the third most in a single season in program history. She is now the fifth ever player in program history to steal 50 or more bases for a career. Taylor Lane's home run was her fourth of the season, tying her with Tori Cervantes for the team lead. She now has driven in 21 runs this season, and 40 for her career. 

The Gaels will be back in action in seven days, as they get set to host Stanford on April 24. First pitch is set for 3 PM. 

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