NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Saint Mary's concluded their three-game series with 15th ranked Vanderbilt Sunday afternoon with a 10-0 defeat. The Gaels offense had been productive all weekend long but were held scoreless today on just two hits.
Freshman right hander
Sam Kretsch made his second start of the season and battled his way through three innings. Kretsch struck out five batters to get out of some jams and prevent a big inning for the Commodores but allowed three before departing in the fourth.
Once again it was just two innings of damage for the Dores as they broke the game open with seven runs in the sixth. Fellow freshman
Talin Gardini followed Kretsch and recorded three strikeouts in his two innings of work to keep Saint Mary's within striking distance.
Justin Santiago would replace Gardini to start the sixth and work through the first two batters to get a pair of quick outs. Santiago would run into some trouble though with back-to-back walks to put runners on. Two straight singles on the ground would score two runs and then things got out of hand with an RBI double off the left field wall to make it 6-0.
Two more walks and a bases clearing double would complete the seven run sixth, all coming with two outs.
Tanner Griffith and
Aiden Taurek would have the line hits for the Gaels offense. The teams best chance came in the fifth inning after the first two hitters reached base, bringing up catcher
Hayden Driggs with no outs. After failing to lay down a sac bunt, Driggs would battle his way to a full count and send a deep fly ball to the warning track in left. The Dores left fielder would get under it at the track to record the out as Driggs was just a few feet away from tying the game up with one swing of the bat.
Saint Mary's leaves Nashville winless but led in games one and two and showed great competitiveness throughout the weekend. They will fly home and regroup for a Tuesday afternoon matchup with Fresno State at 2:00 PM.
Tickets can be bought online at smcgaels.com/tickets and you can stream the game live on ESPN+. Be sure to follow your Gaels on Facebook, Instagram, and X to get all the latest Saint Mary's athletics updates and information.
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