MORAGA, Calif. — After a single game week last week, the Saint Mary's Gaels (23-16, 3-1 WCC) will have their toughest task of the season, hosting eighth ranked Stanford (36-10, 13-5 Pac12) in their final non-conference matchup of the regular season. Following their matchup with the Cardinal, the Gaels will get back to WCC play with a four game road series at Santa Clara (22-19, 1-3 WCC).

THE DETAILS
Saint Mary's Gaels vs. No. 8 Stanford Cardinal
Wednesday, April 24 at 3 PM
Cottrell Field – Moraga, Calif. 
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Saint Mary's Gaels at Santa Clara Broncos
April 26-28, Santa Clara Softball Stadium – Santa Clara, Calif. 
Friday, 5 PM | WATCH | LIVE STATS
Saturday, 2:30 PM | WATCH | LIVE STATS
Saturday, 5 PM | WATCH | LIVE STATS
Sunday, 12 PM | WATCH | LIVE STATS

ALONE AT THE TOP
Through two weeks of WCC play, the Saint Mary's Gaels find themselves atop the conference standings, 1.5 games ahead of LMU, Pacific and San Diego, who are locked in a three way tie for second. Not only are the Gaels leading the conference as a team, but they also have multiple individual performers leading in different statistical categories. True freshman Sam Buckley leads the WCC in batting average (.396), slugging percentage (.719), on-base percentage (.530) and just set a new single season conference record with seven triples (and counting). Speedster Marissa Montelongo leads the conference in runs scored (33) and stolen bases (28) in what's been a stellar senior campaign. Rounding out the group of individual leaders is Odhi Vasquez, who has dominated in the circle to the toon of a WCC best .181 opponents batting average. 

ABOUT THE CARDINAL
A top-10 program, Stanford enters with a stellar 36-10 record, but was just swept by UCLA, falling out of the top-five. Under the direction of seventh year Head Coach Jessica Allister, Stanford has totalled 232 victories, and four NCAA Tournament appearances. Sophomore Emily Jones will enter tomorrow's matchup riding a 15 game hit streak that has seen her average climb to a team best 0.403. Jones also plays a brilliant center field, boasting a brilliant combination of speed and athleticism for the Cardinal. While Jones has been strong at the plate and in the field, no player has been more dominant for Stanford than sophomore pitcher NiJaree Canady. Hailing from Topeka, Kansas, the defending DI Softball Freshman of the Year has not even pondered the term "sophomore slump", as she has gone 15-4 in the circle with a 0.51 ERA and 215 strikeouts to just 19 walks. This matchup will be the 58th meeting all-time between the Gaels and Cardinal, with Stanford leading the series 38-19. The Gaels last win over Stanford came in 2021 in Palo Alto. 

ABOUT THE BRONCOS
Through one WCC series, the Santa Clara Broncos find themselves in the conference sellar, but will look to get back into a wide open hunt for the conference title as the season wears on. At 22-19 for the year, this team has more than enough talent to do just that. Head Coach Gina Carbonatto is now in her fifth season at SCU, and has now won 20 or more games in three straight seasons. The team boasts an incredible 1-2 power punch in their lineup, with Morgan Salmon and Hazyl Gray combining for 10 home runs and 56 RBI. Hannah Edwards has pitched more innings than any other Bronco, going 9-5 this season with a 3.64 ERA and a team-high 51 strikeouts. The Gaels lead the all-time series over the Broncos 100-58, including a sweep of SCU in Moraga last season. 

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