MORAGA, Calif. — After back-to-back WCC series wins over San Diego and Gonzaga, Saint Mary's Baseball (15-10, 4-2 WCC) turns their attention back to a non-conference foe, as the top dogs in the Western Athletic Conference, the Grand Canyon Lopes, come to town for a four game set. The Gaels have won three of their last four at home, and look to keep it going against a Lopes team that has won just two of their last five on the road.
THE DETAILS
Saint Mary's Gaels vs Grand Canyon Lopes
April 4 - 7, Brother Ronald Gallagher Stadium – Moraga, Calif.
Thursday, 3:00 PM | WATCH |
LIVE STATS |
TICKETS
Friday, 3:00 PM | WATCH |
LIVE STATS |
TICKETS
Saturday, 1:00 PM | WATCH |
LIVE STATS |
TICKETS
Sunday, 12:00 PM | WATCH |
LIVE STATS |
TICKETS
LAST TIME OUT
The week started with a midweek ballgame against the Air Force Falcons, in which the Gaels exploded for 15 runs. Saint Mary's fell into an early 1-0 deficit in the top of the second, but a six run second, sparked by back to back home runs from Brian Duroff and Nathan Chong gave the Gaels a lead that they would not relinquish. Air Force would cut things down to a one run deficit at 6-5 midway through the fifth, but Saint Mary's finished the game out with nine unanswered runs through the final four and half innings. Christian Almanza logged three extra base hits (a double and two home runs) in the victory, scoring three times and driving in five. True freshman Shawn McBroom picked up his first career victory, tossing scoreless, hitless baseball in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings, facing the minimum in the process.
The Gonzaga Bulldogs made their way to Moraga for the weekend series, boasting an unbeaten conference record. Gonzaga kept that going in game one of the series, as the Gaels fell behind 4-0 in the first inning, and, while fighting hard to get back into the contest, fell just short, dropping their home conference opener 4-3. Despite surrendering four runs in the first, starter Derik Eaquinto battled back to toss each of the next seven innings scoreless, working eight full innings for just the second time in his career. Nathan Chong hit a two run home run in the bottom of the ninth to draw the Gaels within one, but Gonzaga was able to stop the bleeding in the nick of time to preserve the victory.
Rain forced the final two games of the series to be played in doubleheader fashion. Game two saw the Gaels again fall into an early deficit, this time when the Bulldogs plated two in the third off of Ryan Wiltse, making his first start of 2024. The Gaels put up runs in the fifth and sixth innings and RBI from Christian Almanza and Coleman Schmidt, but Gonzaga once again reclaimed the lead in seventh. Momentum swung the Gaels way, however, following the seventh inning stretch. Gavin Napier and Christian Almanza both reached base, chasing Gonzaga starter Liam Paddack from the game, and Ryan Pierce drove both of them in with a single to right, giving Saint Mary's their first lead of the series. Head Coach Eric Valenzuela handed the ball to closer Preston Howey to record the final six outs, and while the Gaels picked up two insurance runs in the eighth, they didn't truly need them, as Howie allowed just one base runner through the final two frame, picking up his third save of the season. Ryan Sanders earned the win, tossing three innings in relief of Wiltse, moving to 2-0 on the season. After being held hitless in game one, Gavin Napier logged his third three hit ballgame of the season, going 3-4 with a walk, a run scored and an RBI, as the Gael took it 6-3.
While games one and two of the SMC-Gonzaga series were tightly contested, game three was all about the Gaels. Saint Mary's scored four in the first inning, two on a pair of Gonzaga balks and two on a Connor "Bear" Harrison two run blast, and the Gaels were off to the races. Connor Linchey tossed the best game of his already stellar Saint Mary's career, taking a perfect game into the seventh, facing the minimum number of batters through seven, and needing just 74 pitches to toss eight scoreless frames. Christian Almanza blasted a grand slam in the seventh inning to push the Gaels ahead by double digits, as they would eventually win 14-0.
With three home runs and 10 RBI, Christian Almanza was named the Rawlings WCC Player of the Week, while Connor Linchey was named the Saint Mary's Shamrock Office Solutions Student-Athlete of the Week for his series clinching victory on the hill.
ABOUT THE LOPES
Sitting atop the Western Athletic Conference standings are the Grand Canyon Lopes, currently with a record of 15-12 and 9-3 in WAC play. Second year Head Coach Gregg Wallis is looking to lead his team to their second WAC Regular Season Title in as many seasons, and will hope for a Tournament Title as well, as he looks to guide his team to the NCAA postseason for the first time in his tenure. The Lopes boast a very top heavy lineup, with five starters batting over 0.300 in the early going. Center fielder Eddy Pelc leads the team, batting 0.379, while designated hitter Beau Ankeney is batting 0.379 with a team high 17 extra base hits, and left fielder Tyler Wilson is batting 0.320 with a team leading 27 RBI. True freshman Connor Mattison has made recent headlines, tossing a no-hitter last week against Sacramento State, fanning ten in the 125 pitch no-no effort. He leads the team's starting rotation with a 4-1 record and a 2.75 ERA. He has struck out 49 batters over 36 innings, and opponents are hitting just 0.206 against him. Already with 10 appearances under his belt, redshirt sophomore Walter Quinn has become the most trusted arm out of the GCU bullpen, with an ERA of 2.21 over 20.1 innings worked. All-time, the Gaels lead the series over the Lopes 4-2. The two last squared off in a three game series in 2017, with the Gaels taking two of three at home.
Saint Mary's full schedule can be viewed here and season tickets can be purchased by clicking here.
#GaelsRise
