FRESNO, Calif. — The Bulldog Classic came to an end tonight, with the Gaels (10-13) dropping both ends of a doubleheader to Fresno State (13-9) 2-1 and 4-2. The Saint Mary's pitching staff shined today, but the offense couldn't quite crest the mountain to pull away from the Bulldogs. 

Game One: SMC 1 - FS 2
The Gaels used three pitchers (Mia Nishikawa, Chelsea Bennett, Avrey Wolverton) in the opening game of their Sunday doubleheader, who combined to pitch an absolute gem, but the Bulldogs offense was eventually able to outlast the Gaels, eking out the 2-1 walk-off victory. 

Saint Mary's struck first in the top half of the first, as Sam Buckley and Camille Lara led off the game with back-to-back singles before Buckley was able to score on a booted ball by the Bulldog second baseman (former Gael Marissa Montelongo). Fresno State knotted things up in the bottom half of the first on a solo shot, but their bats were kept in check for just about the rest of the game. In the third inning, Buckley and Lara again led off with back to back singles, but this time were unable to advance past second and first respectively. Those four hits were all the Gaels could muster in the game, as they did not have a baserunner after the third inning. 

After the first inning home run surrendered, Mia Nishikawa worked the next two full frames scoreless. After surrendering a one out walk in the fourth, Nishikawa was lifted for Chelsea Bennett, retired her first two batters to get out of the fourth, then induced an inning ending double play with two on in the fifth. Following a walk and a single allowed to start the sixth, Avrey Wolverton came on to relieve Bennett and retired the first three batters she faced. Back on for the top of the seventh, Wolverton worked grittily to try and strand a lead off double on the basepaths, but after recording the first two outs of the seventh, allowed a walk-off hit to end things. 

Sam Buckley and Camille Lara combined to go 4-6 at the plate, with Buckley scoring the Gaels only run in this one. Unfortunately, the rest of the Gaels lineup could not pick up their one and two hitters, going a combined 0-20. 

Game Two: SMC 2 - FS 4
The Gaels again battled tough against the Bulldogs, but a first inning two run home run put them behind the eight ball. They would tie things up at two, but two late runs from Fresno would seal the deal on the doubleheader sweep. 

In a two run hole, the Gaels scored two unanswered runs to knot things up. Alex Cutonilli led off the fourth with a double and advanced to third on a Jenavee Amador groundout. Cutonilli was then run for by Aryanna Gonzalez once she reached third, and Victoria Castillo grounded a single back up the middle for her first RBI of the season. Then, in the fifth, the Gaels loaded the bases with a single by Mia Zabat, a walk issued to Tori Cervantes and a Sam Buckley hit by pitch. Camille Lara then stepped up and grounded into an RBI fielder's choice to tie things up. 

The Bulldogs would respond with the go-ahead run in the bottom of the fifth on what looked like an inning ending double-play. With a runner at third and one out, Odhi Vasquez got a ground ball back to her and fired to her catcher Jenavee Amador who applied the tag, then fired the ball to Claudia Kirchner at second who tagged out the batter trying to advance to second. Unfortunately, obstruction was called on Amador and the run counted. Another run came across on a sacrifice fly in the sixth, as Fresno State would ride those two runs to the victory.

Alex Cutonilli broke out of her recent coldspell, going 3-4 with a pair of doubles. Mia Zabat also had a couple of knocks in this one, good for her first multi-hit game since the Mary Nutter Classic. 

UP NEXT
The Gaels will return home as they host their own multi-team tournament next week, welcoming Columbia, Harvard, Weber State and Portland State to Cottrell Field for Friday, Saturday and Sunday of next week. 

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