SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - Due to expected rain on Sunday, both teams pivoted to play a doubleheader on Saturday to complete the three-game series. Saint Mary's came from behind in game one and posted a four-run tenth inning to win in extras, 7-3. San Francisco would answer back in the rubber match with a big six-run fifth inning to take the finale 10-4.
The Gaels pitching had been a question mark all series long but they got great performances out of their relief pitchers in game one to keep them within striking distance. Despite surrendering the lead in the ninth to force extras, Saint Mary's would turn around to hang four runs including a three-run bomb from
Eddie Madrigal to eventually seal the 7-3 victory.
Both teams were tied at one through the first four innings but the Dons hitters got to Eaquinto in the fifth to put up six runs and take a commanding 7-1 lead. The Gaels would record three runs in the ninth to make USF sweat a little, but they would turn a double play to end the ballgame and take the series, two games to one.
GAME ONE SMC 7-3 USF (10 Inn.)
7TH INNING
Saturday starter
Donovan Chriss made his seventh start of the season and battled his way through 4.2 innings, giving up just two runs off four hits. The Gaels trailed 2-1 heading into the seventh but not before an RBI double from
Diego Castellanos to score Madrigal and knot things up at two. Castellanos erupted on second base as Saint Mary's had left ten runners on base up until that point.
Daniel Guevara Castro got through the sixth and seventh allowing just one hit before turning things over to
John Damozonio has been stellar as of late out of the pen for Saint Mary's.
9TH INNING
Another clutch two-out double would plague the Dons as this time it was
Brian Duroff who doubled to the left center wall to score the speedy Castellanos from first, giving Saint Mary's the 3-2 lead for their first of the game. Damozonio would head back out for the bottom half of the ninth with a chance to win shut the door.
10TH INNING
Damozonio would give up a run but strand three base runners for USF to keep the game tied at three going into extras. The Gaels offense wouldn't slow down though as they rallied for four runs including a three-run homer from Madrigal for his team leading eighth of the year. After an RBI double from
Tanner Griffith and an infield single from
Ryan Pierce, Madrigal would take the 3-2 pitch high over the right field netting to give Saint Mary's the lead for good.
Freshman lefty
Talin Gardini came in for the bottom of the tenth and recorded two strikeouts to retire the Dons in order and seal the come from behind victory. Despite leaving a whopping 14 runners on base, the Gaels still rallied to score late and got some clutch relief pitching to get their first conference win of the season.
Griffith and Pierce each had three hits in the game, Madrigal led the team with three-RBI and Castellanos reached base four times with a pair of hits and two walks. Damozonio would get credit for the win as he was the pitcher of record when Saint Mary's took the lead back in the tenth, improving to 2-0 on the season.
GAME TWO SMC 4-10 USF
Gardini would get the start for Saint Mary's in game two of Saturday's doubleheader but act more as an opener, pitching just the first inning before making way for
Derik Eaquinto. Eaquinto cruised through the next three innings, retiring eight straight dating back to the end of the second. The Dons would make some noise though in the fifth and break the game open with six runs on six hits.
After loading the bases with just one out, shortstop TJ Rogers would mash a ball over the left field wall for a grand slam. After a pitching change, back-to-back two-out RBI hits would plate another two runners and give San Francisco a 7-1 lead.
Saint Mary's was held scoreless for six consecutive innings after scoring in the second. They took advantage of two USF errors in the ninth to put up three runs but 4-6-3 double play would end the game and seal the series win for the Dons, 10-4. The Gaels pitching wore thin by the end of the weekend with two long games and a ten-inning ballgame in game two. Pierce and Madrigal stayed hot, combining for four hits while
Aiden Taurek went 1-for-4 with two runs scored.
Garret Plata was the lone SMC pitcher to not give up a run, retiring the Dons in order in the eighth and striking out a pair of batters as well. His ERA makes its way down to 4.15 in eleven appearances on the season.
LOOKING AHEAD
Saint Mary's split the doubleheader with San Francisco, featuring a 7-3 extra inning victory. They are now 13-14 overall and 1-2 in WCC play. They will return to Br. Ronald Gallagher Stadium on Tuesday, April 1st to take on Cal State Northridge at 3:00 PM. Get your tickets online at smcgaels.com/tickets.
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