CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. — After a 4-0 start at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, the Saint Mary's Gaels (6-7) faced their toughest opponent to date, the 23rd ranked San Diego State Aztecs (11-3). Despite the marquee matchup the Gaels did not wilt under the pressure, but rather thrived, cutting a five run deficit to just one late, but ultimately dropped their first contest of the weekend to SDSU by a narrow 6-5 margin.
The Aztecs built up an early 5-0 lead through the first four and a half innings, stringing together nine hits against Gaels starter Avrey Wolverton, who also issued five free passes (four walks and one hit batter). That being said, Wolverton did an excellent job pitching around traffic, stranding seven base runners in her 4.2 innings of work.
From the bottom of the fifth on, the Gaels completely swung momentum in their favor. Saint Mary's was limited to just one hit going into the bottom frame of the fifth, but Jenavee Amador banged a double to right and was pinch run for by Victoria Castillo to get the wheels turning on the Gaels offensive front. Castillo scored on a Mia Zabat bloop double to right, and Averie Prescott worked an 11 pitch walk, bringing the tying runner to the on-deck circle. With two outs, Zabat at third and Prescott at second, Kiah Silva chopped a ball to first and legged out an rbi infield single before Camille Lara smashed a ball off the first baseman's glove, scoring both Prescott and Silva. Just like that, it was a one run ball game at 5-4.
Reliever Mia Nishikawa allowed the first two runners to reach in the top of the sixth via a walk and a double, giving the Aztecs back a run, but would retire the final six batters she would face from that point. Taylor Lane doubled to lead off the bottom of the sixth, and her pinch runner, Dominique Oliveira advanced to third on a Jenavee Amador ground out. Up stepped the red hot Zabat again, who dropped a bunt down the third base line. Running hard from third, Oliveira beat the throw to once again put the Gaels within a run, but that's where the margin would end, as neither Zabat, nor Julia Medina who led off the seventh with a hit, would make it beyond first base.
Mia Zabat again led the Gaels offense, finishing off an 8-15 weekend by going 1-3 with a run scored, her fourth of the week, and two RBI, bringing her weekend tally to seven. Camille Lara also drove in two, for the second consecutive game. She now leads the team with a 0.341 batting average for the year.
UP NEXT
The Gaels will head to Santa Barbara for a four game tournament hosted by UCSB. The Gaels will take on the Gauchos twice, as well as UNLV and Creighton in the event spanning from 2/27 - 3/1.
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