MORAGA, Calif. — There might not be a hotter offensive team in the country than the Saint Mary's Gaels (16-15). Winners of six of their last seven, the Gaels have averaged over nine runs per game during this hot streak, hitting 16 of their 23 home runs this season. The red hot Gaels will now get a chance at a pair of rematches, one from earlier this season, and one from late last year, as the Gaels will trek over to UC Davis, who defeated the Gaels 2-1 on opening weekend, and then head to Stanford to take on the Cardinal, who defeated Saint Mary's 8-6 in the opening game of the 2024 NCAA Regionals. They will then open conference play with a three game set at Pacific.
THE DETAILS
Saint Mary's Gaels at UC Davis Aggies
Tuesday, April 1 at 3 PM
LaRue Field – Davis, Calif.
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Saint Mary's Gaels at Stanford Cardinal
Wednesday, April 2 at 5 PM
Stanford Stadium – Stanford, Calif.
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Saint Mary's Gaels at Pacific Tigers
Saturday, April 5 at 12 PM and 2:30 PM
Simoni Field – Stockton, Calif.
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Saint Mary's Gaels at Pacific Tigers
Sunday, April 6 at 12 PM
Simoni Field – Stockton, Calif.
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THE WEEKEND OF THE LONG BALL
The last time the Gaels were in action, they were on the road for four games against Idaho State and Utah State. While the Saint Mary's offense was already clicking by that point, the Gaels uncorked for 12 home runs over their four game stretch in the southern Rockies. Sam Buckley accounted for half of those, including the first three home run game in program history in the opener vs Idaho State. Buckley raked in the accolades for the week, including WCC Player of the Week and D1 Softball and Louisville Slugger NFCA National Player of the Week, while being named to the NCAA Lineup of the Week and the number one hitter of the week according to D1 Softball. Just a sophomore, Buckley is one home run shy of tying the single season home run record, and is 10 shy of tying the program career record. Right behind Buckley, Braxton Brown and Tori Cervantes each hit a pair of dingers and were named the eighth and 40th ranked hitters of the week by D1 Softball, while Alex Cutonilli launched one and was ranked 66th on the D1 Softball top 100 hitters of the week list. Last but certainly not least, Victoria Castillo smashed her first home run in two years. The 23 home runs hit by the Gaels this season are the most ever by a Sonja Garnett led team, and the most since 2015, when the Gaels hit 35 jacks.
ABOUT THE AGGIES
UC Davis enters this week on a five game losing streak, after being swept by the Long Beach State at home last week, and dropping two of three to the Rainbow Wahine in Honolulu the week prior. Sitting at 11-23 on the year, Head Coach Erin Thorpe has run her impressive win total to 240 in 11 years, good for second most in program history. One of the Aggies 11 wins this season came against the Gaels back on February 9, a tight 2-1 contest that saw the Gaels hold a 1-0 lead for five and a half innings, before a two run single in the sixth won the game for the Aggies. True freshmen Rylie Reeves and Alyssa Dethlefson have led the Aggie offense this season. Reeves leads the team with a 0.351 average, while Dethlefson is batting at 0.313 with a team-best 30 hits and 14 stolen bases. In the circle, Ashley Sawai has moved from solid number two last year, to team ace this year, with seven of their 11 wins and a team-best 73 strikeouts. The Gaels are just 18-44 all-time vs the Aggies, but have won three of their last four meetings.
ABOUT THE CARDINAL
Stanford checks in at 16th in the country in the latest USA Softball Top-25. One of the new members of the ACC, the Cardinal sit at 24-6, but just 8-4 in their first four weeks of conference play. In year at eight on the farm, Head Coach Jessical Allister has amassed 272 wins, and a win percentage of 0.665, both good for second best in Cardinal program history. A juggernaut offense, the Cardinal are paced by juniors Emily Jones and River Mahler, who both bat over 0.430, with a combined 86 hits, 61 runs scored and 52 RBI. In the circle, Kylie Chung leads the team with nine wins, 25 appearances, 15 starts, 73 innings, and a 2.78 ERA. This will be the 60th all-time meeting between the Gaels and Cardinal, with the Cardinal leading the series 40-19. The Gaels win against Stanford came in 2021.
ABOUT THE TIGERS
After taking two of three at Portland State last weekend, the Pacific Tigers sit at 11-19, and will play Sacramento State and San Jose State this week before facing the Gaels. Sam Duran-Kukuk is in her first season in the helm, taking over for legendary Head Coach Brian Kolze, who led the Pacific team for 32 years. Paced by one of the WCC's top hitters, Olivia Silvestre (0.464, 45 hits, 16 extra-base hits), the Tigers offense has been strong to start the campaign. The pitching is also much improved compared to last season, due in big part to a sophomore awakening for ace Justice Alcaraz, who, after amassing an 8.25 ERA last year, is now sitting at 7-4 with a 3.68 ERA this season. Pacific leads the all-time series 48-21, but has lost each of the last four series against the Gaels.
#GaelsRise
