SACRAMENTO, Calif. — It was not the dream start that the Saint Mary's Gaels (0-2) had hoped for after winning the WCC for the first time in program history a year ago, as SMC dropped both of their contests to open the NorCal Kickoff. The Gaels had opportunities in both of their contests against Boise State (1-0) and Sacramento State (1-0), but stranded a total of 15 runners over the two games, ultimately falling in both.
GAME ONE: SMC 0 - Boise State 5
Avrey Wolverton earned the opening game start. The veteran was terrific in the circle in the opening three innings, surrendering just one run on two hits, while striking out three. The Gaels would put runners in scoring position in each of the first three innings, but were unable to cash in. Wolverton would give up a leadoff single, followed by a two run home run to open up the fourth, before getting lifted in favor of Odhi Vasquez.
Vasquez retired the side in the fourth, but allowed the first three runners to reach in the fifth, allowing two of them to score. She would deliver a scoreless sixth and seventh, but the Gaels offense never was able to get on the board for either of their pitchers.
The Gaels certainly had their chances to score in this one, finishing with as many hits as the Broncos. In the first inning, Tori Cervantes drew a one out walk, and Sam Buckley reached on a bunt single before Braxton Brown advanced both 60 feet on a ground out, but both would end up stranded in scoring position. With the game still scoreless in the second, Camille Lara reached on a fielder's choice, stole second, but was thrown out at home on a Lindsay Cabral knock. Down 1-0, Buckley laced a double to the left centerfield gap with two outs, but was once again left on the pond. From that point on, the Gaels would have only one runner reach scoring position over the final four frames, as the Broncos continued to add to their lead and pull away.
Sam Buckley picked up where she left off from last season, going 2-3 with the Gaels lone extra base hit. Kiah Silva, batting in the leadoff spot in her collegiate debut, logged her first collegiate hit in this one. Out of the bullpen, Odhi Vasquez worked a strong four full innings, surrendering just two runs while fanning five.
GAME TWO: SMC 3 - Sacramento State 6
Saint Mary's led twice early in this one, at 1-0 and 2-1. The Gaels struck first in the top of the first, as Sam Buckley dropped a one out single into left, Taylor Lane walked, and Alex Cutonilli blooped a single to shallow right. A good throw from the Hornets right fielder caught Buckley in a run down, but the throw from the catcher back to third was dropped, and Buckley slid in safely for the Gaels first run of the year.
Sac State would knot things up in the second, but the Gaels responded to regain the lead in the third. Sam Buckley roped her fourth hit of the afternoon once again into the left center gap for another two-bagger. Alex Cutonilli worked her first collegiate base on balls to keep the inning alive with two outs when Jenavee Amador sent a 1-1 pitch to left, plating Buckley for the second time today.
A three error, four run fifth would give the Hornets a lead that they would not relinquish for the remainder of the game, but the Gaels did battle to the bitter end. With two outs in the seventh, Sam Buckley worked a full count walk, and Taylor Lane reached on an error, bringing Alex Cutonilli to the plate. Cutonilli looped a ball into center, scoring Buckley for a third time and bringing the tying run to the plate. Unfortunately, the Hornets were able to stop the bleeding and earned the victory, 6-3.
The Gaels pitching duo of Mia Nishikawa and Ella Thurman only surrendered two earned runs combined in this one. Both earned runs were charged to Nishikawa, the first coming when she surrendered three straight singles to open the bottom of the second, and the second when she allowed a solo shot to start the bottom of the third. The remaining four Sac State runs came in as a direct result of Gael defensive miscues. Thurman came in and made her collegiate debut in the fifth in relief of Nishikawa. She struck out the side in the fifth, and surrendered just one hit in the sixth, keeping the Gaels within striking distance.
Again it was Buckley doing the heavy lifting for the Gaels offense, going 2-3 with a double, a walk, and all three of the SMC runs scored. Alex Cutonilli joined her in multi-hit land, going 2-3 with a walk and a RBI, while Jenavee Amador went 1-4 with her first RBI of 2025.
UP NEXT
The Gaels will get just one game on day two of the NorCal Kickoff, taking on Idaho State at 9:30 AM at LaRue Field in Davis, California.
#GaelsRise
