MORAGA, Calif. — The Gaels (25-22, 8-3 2nd in WCC) continue to stay red-hot, as they took both games of a doubleheader today against the University of San Diego (20-28, 4-10 6th in WCC) to remain just one game back of first place in the conference. The wins were the Gaels fourth and fifth straight, tying, then breaking the season's longest win streak mark.
GAME ONE: SMC 3 - USD 2
Mia Nishikawa got the ball in game one of the series for the third time in four conference clashes this year. After a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the first, the Toreros took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second on a two out double, followed by a two run blast to left. For the third time in the last four games, the Gaels were asked to play from behind early, and to attempt a comeback. That doesn't happen if your pitcher doesn't respond to the early adversity, and respond Mia did! The sophomore hung up five straight zeroes from the third through the seventh innings, allowing just two hits and three total base runners for the rest of the game, leaving plenty of time for her offense to chip away.
The Gaels got on the scoreboard in the bottom of third first. Dominique Oliveria launched a double to deep right to lead off the inning with her first collegiate extra base hit. With one out, Sam Buckley would walk, and Camille Lara would flare a single to left to load the bases for the defending WCC Player of the Week, Tori Cervantes. After a seven pitch battle, Cervantes lifted a ball to straight away center, which was deep enough for the fleet footed Oliveira to score and cut the deficit in half.
San Diego's Kelsey Tadlock would do an excellent job keeping the Gaels bats at bay, but in the sixth, the Gaels would flip the script to take their first lead of the weekend. Alex Cutonilli would work a seven pitch walk, and would then advance to second on a productive groundout by Taylor Lane. Victoria Castillo would log her second hit of the day, a single through the right side, and would advance to second on a throw to the plate that would force Cutonilli to retreat to third base. The Gaels would then call on their senior catcher Jenavee Amador to pinch hit, and Amador delivered, taking a rise ball back up the middle to score both Cutonilli and Castillo. Ahead by a run, all that was left was for Mia Nishikawa to finish the job, and she did just that, retiring the side in order in the seventh to earn her 10th victory of the season.
Camille Lara and Victoria Castillo both stayed hot, each with a two hit ballgame, moving both of their tallies to seven knocks over the last four games. Castillo also scored what would prove to be the winning run. Jenavee Amador would produce her first pinch hit hit of the year, and it would prove to be the most pivotal moment of the game. Dominique Oliveira was responsible for the lone extra base hit for the Gaels, the first of her collegiate career. The win was the Gaels eighth come from behind W, and their third in the last four games.
GAME TWO: SMC 7 - USD 1
Odhi Vasquez got the ball in game two, and did not disappoint. The junior walked the first batter she faced, then proceeded to retire the next nine, taking a no-hitter into the fourth inning. San Diego would break through with two singles in the first, resulting in their lone run of the game, but those were the only two hits that Odhi would allow in the contest. With her offense coming to life in game two, Vasquez cruised to her 10th win of the season in complete game fashion.
After being kept quiet in the first, the Gaels struck for two unearned runs in the second, and two earned in the third. Alex Cutonilli reached on an error to second base to start the second, and advanced to second on a Taylor Lane groundout. Victoria Castillo laced a ball to left and advanced to second on a throw in, bringing up game one hero, Jenavee Amador, to the plate with runners at second and third and one away. Just like in game one, Amador delivered with a single to center, scoring Cutonilli from third. Mia Zabat would line out to right, deep enough to score Castillo and push the Gaels ahead 2-0 through two.
In the third, Sam Buckley ripped a single down the left field line with one out, and advanced to second on Camille Lara's ground out to second. Tori Cervantes then rolled one back up the middle to plate Buckley, and stole second, before Alex Cutonilli blasted a ball off the base of the fence in right, scoring Cervantes. Through three innings, the Gaels held a 4-0 lead, with Odhi Vasquez cruising.
San Diego would break up the shutout in the fourth, and bounced back to start and slow down the Gaels offense, until the fifth inning. Camille Lara smacked a single to right center with one away, but was eliminated on a Tori Cervantes fielder's choice. Cervantes advanced to second on a wild pitch, but that would mean little, as Alex Cutonilli would hammer an 0-2 drop ball to the deepest part of center field for her seventh home run of the year. Saint Mary's would add one more in the sixth on a Torero error at short, giving Vasquez more than enough insurance to close things out for her tenth win.
Alex Cutonilli finished a stellar birthday game with the two hardest parts of the cycle, a triple and a home run, driving in three of the Gaels seven runs. Sam Buckley and Mia Zabat each also had two hit ballgames, with Buckley scoring once and Zabat scoring a run and driving in a run. Tori Cervantes had just one hit, but scored twice, and drove in one, while swiping her team best 12th stolen bag. The win moved the Gaels winning streak to five in a row, the longest of the season. Santa Clara also won both of their contests against LMU, meaning the Gaels remain one game back of the Broncos, but move to 2.5 games ahead of the Lions, who sit in third.
UP NEXT
The Gaels will finish out their three game set against San Diego tomorrow at noon. As it is the final home regular season contest of the year, the Gaels will honor their four graduating seniors, Jenavee Amador, Lindsay Cabral, Claudia Kirchner and Avrey Wolverton in a pregame ceremony.
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