BSB | Gaels Overcome Four-Run Deficit but Fall in Extras to Portland

Friday, April 4

Moraga, CA

3:00 PM

Saint Mary's College of California

13-15, 1-3

Portland

13-17, 6-1

Portland

Saint Mary's

#31 Aiden Taurek: 3-5, 1 R

BSB | Gaels Overcome Four-Run Deficit but Fall in Extras to Portland

4/4/2025 8:07:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

MORAGA, Calif. - Game one between Saint Mary's and Portland did not disappoint as the Gaels tied the game in the eighth before giving up three runs in the eleventh to fall 7-5 to the Pilots. Both teams rounded out the 2025 WCC preseason poll with Portland picked second just ahead of Saint Mary's who was picked third and bounced from last year's conference tournament by the Pilots.

Portland put up four runs in the first three innings including a three-run homer from Riley McCarthy in the second. Gaels starter Dylan Delvecchio continued to fight though and bounced back with three scoreless innings to keep the Gaels within striking distance. Saint Mary's found themselves down two heading into the eighth but a two-RBI double from Ian Armstrong would tie the game up and help force extras.

Portland's relief pitching was solid though as they retired the SMc hitters in order in the ninth and the tenth. The Pilots were able to retake the lead in the eleventh with three runs off three hits and a crucial error that helped plate the sixth run for Portland. Brady Petit singled to score Jared Mettam in the bottom half of the eleventh but Logan Anderson would induce a 4-6-3 double play the very next at-bat to end the game and record his first win of the season.

HOW IT HAPPENED…

2ND INNING

Senior lefty Dylan Delvecchio made his eighth start of the season and was looking to bounce back after his worst outing of the season to San Francisco last weekend. Delvecchio was firing strikes but Portland was punishing the inside half of the plate, recording five hits over the first two innings.

Delvecchio induced a clutch 6-4-3 double play to get out of a jam in the first but the Pilots would strike first in the second with a three-run homer from Riley McCarthy. After a two-out double, Delvecchio would record his first strikeout of the afternoon the very next at-bat to end the threat as the Pilots took a 3-0 lead into the third.

Delvecchio gave up a two-out RBI single in the third to give the Pilots a 4-0 lead but head coach Eric Valenzuela gave him some leash and let him come back out to start the fourth. As a result, Delvecchio bounced back with three straight scoreless innings and retired the Pilots in order in the sixth to keep the Gaels within striking distance. Delvecchio seemed to get better as the game went on and tied his season high with six innings of work, allowing four runs and striking out six.

8TH INNING

Saint Mary's started to get runners on and put Portland starter Curtis Hebert under some pressure. The Gaels got one back in the fifth thanks to a sac fly from Ian Armstrong and then scored another in the seventh off an RBI groundout from Ryan Pierce to make it a 4-2 game.

After a 1-2-3 inning from relief pitcher Daniel Guevara Castro in the top half of the eighth, the bats continued to heat up for the Gaels after a leadoff single from Aiden Taurek started the rally. Diego Castellanos would follow suit and punch a single through the left side to set the table for Armstrong with one out. Armstrong wasted no time and doubled to the right field corner to clear the bases and tie the game at four with Castellanos scoring all the way from first.

E8 | SMC 4 - POR 4

We've got a tie ballgame, ladies and gentlemen!

Ian Armstrong rips a 2-RBI double up the first base line and make it 4-4 with one frame to go 🔥#GaelsRise pic.twitter.com/MIpb9vhXH5
— Saint Mary's Baseball (@SMC_Baseball) April 5, 2025

Portland was able to get out of the inning with back-to-back ground outs to keep the game tied heading into the ninth. Castro would start the ninth and get the first batter to fly out, but walk the next two and force Valenzuela to make a change. In would come junior right hander John Damozonio who has been great for the Gaels this season, but he would plunk the first batter he saw to load the bases for Portland.

Damozonio would gather himself though and go on to strikeout the next batter and then induce a ground ball to first to leave the bases loaded and send the game into the bottom of the ninth tied at four. Saint Mary's would ultimately go down in order and send the game into extra innings.

11TH INNING

Damozonio finished out the game for Saint Mary's and was solid once again in his tenth appearance of the season. After pitching a scoreless tenth, he would come back out for the eleventh but surrender a two-out RBI double to give Portland a 5-4 lead. The momentum would fully swing the Pilots way as they tacked on two more and took advantage of a throwing error from Ryan Pierce that scored Trey Swygart from second.

The Gaels got some late life after a one-out single from Jared Mettam, followed by an RBI single from pinch hitter Brady Petit to make it a two-run game. The Pilots had some stellar defensive plays throughout the game and they got another big one on the very next at-bat as they turned a 4-6-3 double play to end the game and secure the dramatic 7-5 victory.

Logan Anderson got credit for the win as he pitched the tenth and eleventh while Damozonio picked up his first loss of the season. Aiden Taurek led the Gaels with three hits on the day while Ian Armstrong tied his season high with three RBI.

LOOKING AHEAD

Saint Mary's falls to 13-15 overall and 1-3 in conference play after their extra-inning defeat to Portland. Game two of the series will take place on Saturday, April 5th at 1:00 PM. Stream the game live on ESPN+ and get your tickets online at smcgaels.com/tickets.

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#GaelsRise