MORAGA, Calif. – After a bigtime win for the Gaels (29-22, 9-6 WCC) on Thursday over the LMU Lions (28-24, 9-6 WCC), they could not keep the momentum rolling on Friday, as the Lions, playing for their postseason lives, took both sides of the doubleheader 3-2 and 8-0. The pair of losses for the Gaels makes tomorrow's finale a must win, while also needing help from San Diego to keep their chances at an NCAA Regional alive. 

GAME ONE: LMU 3, SMC 2
After taking a throw down from her catcher off the shoulder and allowing two early runs, starter Mia Nishikawa exited the contest with two away in the first in favor of Avrey Wolverton. Wolverton hit the first batter she faced, but then set down a streak of 11 in a row to allow the Gaels to rally back to tie things up. 

Both Gaels runs would be driven in by Taylor Lane and scored by Sam Buckley. First, in the second, Buckley led off the inning with a walk, was bunted to second by Alex Cutonilli and scored on a Lane single back up the middle. Then, in the fourth, Buckley drew a one out walk, stole second, was singled to third by Cutonilli, and once again scored on a Lane single, this time through the left side. Taylor Lane has now tallied 32 RBI on the season, one shy of Buckley's team high 33. 

In the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, the Gaels would put the go-ahead run in scoring position, including putting Hannah Ferguson at third in the fifth, but they could never scratch across the decisive blow. Instead, it was LMU who scored the go-ahead run with one out in the seventh. Angelina Franco pinch hit in the bottom of the second and came inches close to tying the game, but her rocket died at the warning track, as the Gaels went down in order to end the game. 

Taylor Lane put together her second three hit contest of the Spring, with the other coming in a home conference matchup against Pacific. She also was responsible for both RBI in the game for the Gaels. Sam Buckley scored twice, and improved her on base streak to 32 games.

GAME TWO: LMU 8, SMC 0 (5 INNINGS)
Now with the momentum, LMU jumped ahead early on the Gaels in game three of the series. Starter Odhi Vasquez fell behind 4-0 through the first three, and allowed the first two runners to reach in the fourth before a three run blast from Izzy Jamgotchian ended her day. Chelsea Bennett came on in relief, and gave up a solo shot on the first pitch she threw, but then did not give up a run. Nor did Avrey Wolverton, but down 8-0, the Gaels couldn't muster up a run against the Lions falling 8-0 after five due to the run rule. 

Hannah Ferguson, Jenavee Amador and Alex Cutonilli all logged hits in the game, with both Ferguson and Cutonilli making it into scoring position, but all three would eventually end up stranded on the basepaths. Cutonilli has now logged a hit in each of the three games of the series, and is on a four game hit streak. 

San Diego took game one of their doubleheader against Santa Clara, meaning that all three teams could still be in the hunt for the WCC Title tomorrow. If the Gaels win tomorrow, they would need San Diego to take at least one more against the Broncos to be crowned WCC Champs. If Santa Clara wins the next two, and the Gaels win, then the Broncos would get the NCAA automatic bid, and the Gaels and Broncos would be named co-champs. If LMU wins tomorrow, they will receive their third straight bid to the NCAA Regionals, and would either be co-champs or outright champs of the WCC depending on the Santa Clara-San Diego results.

First pitch for the Gaels and Lions is set for 12:05 PM tomorrow.

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