MORAGA, Calif. — Saint Mary's Baseball (22-13, 7-3 WCC) took a positive step toward winning their fourth consecutive WCC series, downing the San Francisco Dons (17-21, 1-9 WCC) 7-1 to open this weekend's three game set. Pitching and the long ball were key stories for the Gaels today, as Derik Eaquinto tossed eight brilliant innings, and his offense rewarded him with three home runs en route to his third victory of the season. 

The San Francisco bats were befuddled by Eaquinto all day long, as the southpaw would not allow a hit through 7.1 innings. Eventually, the Dons would strike for the first two hits, netting them a run, but the Gaels offense had already put what would prove to be an insurmountable dent on the scoreboard. Derik went eight innings full in total, surrendering one run on two hits and three walks, while striking out a career high 10 batters. 

The Gaels offense struck early to give Eaquinto a lead. In the bottom of the first, Dalton Mashore reached on an error, putting traffic on the basepaths for Christian Almanza. The Gaels purest power hitter, Almanza wasted no time, blasting the second pitch of his first plate appearance 420+ feet over the right center field wall, to quickly push the Gaels ahead 2-0. It was Almanza's 16th blast of the season, tying his career best from a season ago, which also is good for second most ever in program history. He is now four home runs shy of Troy Channing's single season home run record (20) and six shy of tying Channing's career home run record (39). 

Saint Mary's would strike for four more in the fifth on one swing of the bat, when Ryan Pierce put a jolt into a pitch out to the opposite field that carried 357 feet over the right field wall for a grand slam. This was the Gaels fourth grand slam in their past four weekend series, as Pierce joined Christian Almanza (vs Gonzaga and at LMU) and Jared Mettam (vs GCU) in the grand slam party. Pierce this season continues to bat 1.000 with the bases juiced. 

Coleman Schmidt was the final Gael to join the round trip party, mashing a high arching long ball over the left centerfield fence, pushing the Gaels ahead 7-0. Schmidt's home run was the 24th of his career, bringing him into the top-10 in program history. 

While Eaquinto worked eight innings strong, it was Ryan Wiltse, now in a late relief role, who got the ball in the ninth. Wiltse needed just eight pitches to slam the door shut on any Don comeback hopes, retiring the side in order to end this one. 

Coleman Schmidt was the lone Gael to record multiple hits in this game, with a solo home run and an infield single. All seven of the Gaels runs were scored on the long ball, as this was already the 11th time this season that the Gaels homered at least three times in a single contest.

The middle game of this three game set will be played tomorrow with a 1 PM scheduled first pitch. 

Saint Mary's full schedule can be viewed here and season tickets can be purchased by clicking here. 

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