DAVIS, Calif. — In a game that featured two teams with conflicting styles, the Saint Mary's Gaels (1-2) handed the Idaho State Bengals (2-1) their first loss of the season, picking up their own first W in the process, 3-2. The Gaels strung together six singles, netting three runs in the contest, quite the contrast from the two runs both scored on solo shots by the Bengals. That said, it was Saint Mary's with the more timely hits, with five of their six coming with two outs, and three coming with runners in scoring position, leading to the tight victory. 

Avrey Wolverton notched her first complete game victory of the season. It was career W number 13 for her, and career complete game number 12. Wolverton didn't have to deal with much traffic on the basepaths, as the two runs allowed were both solo home runs by the Bengals. Outside of the two home runs, the rest of the Bengals lineup went just 2-for-23 against the veteran pitcher for the Gaels, as Wolverton was able to strand six total ISU players on the basepaths. 

All three of the Gaels' runs were scored with two outs in the third. Bengals starting pitcher Riley Wickum needed just four pitches to record the first two outs of the frame, but nine hole hitter Tori Cervantes started the rally by legging out an infield single to second on the first pitch she saw. Rolling things over to the leadoff hitter, Camille Lara slapped a single to right, before senior Claudia Kirchner notched her first RBI of 2025 with an infield single off the pitcher's glove, allowing the speedy Cervantes to score from second, tying things up at one apiece. Then up stepped the big boppers in the Gael lineup. Taylor Lane laced one to center field, scoring Lara, while Alex Cutonilli went opposite field to right, plating Aryanna Gonzales for her first collegiate run (pinch running for Kirchner). The Gaels would tally just one more hit for the remained of the game, but the big third proved to be enough for the SMC win. 

Taylor Lane was the lone Gael with a multi-hit ballgame, going 2-3 with an RBI. She is now three for her first six to open the season, and has reached base in five of her first eight plate appearances. Claudia Kirchner and Alex Cutonilli each went 1-2 with an RBI, as Cutonilli now leads the team with two on the year, while Tori Cervantes went 1-2 with a run scored. 

UP NEXT
The Gaels will play two on the final day of the NorCal Kickoff; a rematch with Boise State at 9:30 AM and a battle with UC Davis at 2:30 PM. 

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