MORAGA, Calif. — For the first time in program history, the Saint Mary's Gaels (30-22, 10-6 WCC) are WCC Softball Champs! The Gaels did so by downing the LMU Lions (28-25, 9-7 WCC) 8-0 in an inspired senior day effort! The Gaels will now head back to the NCAA Regionals for the first time since 2010!

With their backs against the wall in a must win game, the Gaels opted to toss their veteran Avrey Wolverton in the circle. Wolverton tossed 6.1 innings of one run softball a day ago, but looked fresh in the circle, not allowing a hit until the third inning. The redshirt sophomore was locked in as ever, using her rise ball to induce weak contact all game long. She did allow six hits and a pair of walks, but stranded every Lion runner that made their way onto the basepaths. Wolverton tossed a complete six innings, while her offense rallied behind her. 

The Gaels hit the scoreboard early in the first, when Alex Cutonilli ripped her team-best 12th double of the season to the left centerfield gap, scoring both Marissa Montelongo and Jenavee Amador, as Saint Mary's took the momentum early. They added a third run in the second, when Jenavee Amador was robbed of a hit by LMU second baseman Ari Jaurequi, but still was able to plate Marissa Nishihara from third. 

The situation went from good to better, when Montelongo blasted her first home run at home in her four year Saint Mary's career with Ferguson and Nishihara on to make it 6-0 in the fourth. In the bottom of the sixth, the Gaels put LMU in run rule danger, and then cashed in to end the game early. Nishihara and Ferguson each reached on infield singles, followed by a Montelongo sac bunt that put the game ending run in scoring position. Amador laced one to short that was stopped by the LMU shortstop for an infield single. Amador then took a big turn around first drawing a throw back to first, as the speedy Ferguson dashed for the plate and scored the eighth run of the game to crown the Gaels WCC Champs! The win was also Head Coach Sonja Garnett's 100th at the helm of the Gaels, and marked only the second ever 30 win season in program history. 

A pair of seniors, Marissa Nishihara and Marissa Montelongo, had their fingerprints all over this victory on senior day. Nishihara logged a pair of infield knocks and scored three of the Gaels eight runs. Montelongo added two more runs scored on her own, and three runs driven in on her third collegiate home run, and her first at Cottrell Field. Ferguson picked up her first complete game shutout of the season, and brought her ERA all the way down to 2.88 from 3.08, where it stood at the start of the day. 

The Gaels will host a Selection Sunday watch party inside UCU Pavilion tomorrow. Doors will open at 3:30 PM and the show will begin at 4 PM. The Gaels are guaranteed a spot in the postseason tournament with their WCC Title.

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