FRESNO, Calif. — A year ago, Saint Mary's (10-11) went on the road to Reno and suffered a pair of run rule losses to the Wolf Pack of Nevada. This year, that couldn't have been further from the case, as the Gaels and Wolf Pack (17-5) matched each other pitch for pitch in Fresno, with the Gaels taking game one 3-1, and the Wolf Pack responding with a 2-0 game two victory. With the win, the Gaels moved to double digit wins for the fifth consecutive year under Coach Sonja Garnett. 

GAME ONE: SMC 3 - NEV 1
Mia Nishikawa got the start in the circle for the opening half of today's doubleheader. Back in her hometown of Fresno and on the diamond that she picked up her first collegiate win a year ago, Nishikawa rattled off her best performance of the young season, tossing seven full of one run, four hit softball, while fanning five, tying her season-high. Her lone blemish came in the seventh inning, when she surrendered a lead off triple and a sacrifice fly, but battled back to get the final two outs and secure her third victory of the year. 

The Gaels struck first in the top of the second with a two out rally. Claudia Kircher, back in the lineup at second, was plunked by a pitch before nine hole hitter Tori Cervantes ripped an opposite field triple to right to give Saint Mary's a one run lead. In the fourth inning, Kirchner came up again with two outs, this time with Victoria Castillo (pinch running for Taylor Lane after a leadoff walk) on second. Kirchner this time plugged the left center gap for her first two bagger of the season. Kirchner then was bashed in by a single up the middle, once again off the bat of Cervantes. This was all the insurance Nishikawa and the Gaels would need for the win. 

The bottom of the lineup provided for the Gaels in this one, as spots six through nine (Julia Medina, Mia Zabat, Claudia Kirchner and Tori Cervantes) combined to go 5-13 at the plate with two of the three runs scored and all three driven in. 

GAME TWO: SMC 0 - NEV 2
Chelsea Bennett earned the start in game two, and was about as good as you can get without earning a W. The junior Aussie went a season-long 6.1 innings, surrendering just two runs, after going five scoreless, on six hits and three strikeouts. Three two out hits in the sixth would see the only two runs of the game cross for Nevada, as it was enough to earn the doubleheader split for the Wolf Pack. 

The Gaels would generate solid scoring opportunities in the third, fifth and seventh innings. In the third, Claudia Kirchner led off the inning with a walk, and Tori Cervantes followed that up with a line drive single to left, but the top of the Saint Mary's order could not advance either runner. In the fifth, again it was Kirchner and Cervantes, setting the table, this time with back-to-back one out singles. Sam Buckley would sacrifice both of them into scoring position before Camille Lara slapped a ball hard at the third baseman of the Wolf Pack, who threw across the diamond to beat the speedy Lara by half a step. In the final frame of the game, the Gaels gave themselves a chance to walk things off. With two outs, Kirchner walked before Cervantes and Buckley were both plunked. Once again Camille Lara stepped up and hit a hard grounder, this time up the middle, but it was flagged by the second baseman, who flipped the ball over to the shortstop for the force to end the game and secure the shutout victory. 

Tori Cervantes and Claudia Kirchner stayed hot for the Gaels offensively. The duo reached base six times in a combined six plate appearances. Chelsea Bennett ran into some trouble in the top of the seventh, putting two one with one out, but Avrey Wolverton came out of the pen to retire the side, giving the Gaels a chance to walk things off in the bottom half. 

UP NEXT
The Gaels will close out the Bulldog Classic tomorrow with a doubleheader against the host Fresno State Bulldogs. First pitch is set for 2 PM for game one, with game two to follow immediately.

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