MORAGA, Calif. — Make that six wins in a row for Saint Mary's Softball (26-22, 9-3 WCC t-1st WCC), as the Gaels needed every single out to stage another come from behind victory against San Diego (20-29, 4-11 WCC 6th in WCC), 3-2. For the second time in this three game series, the Toreros Kelsey Tadlock held the Gaels offense in check for a majority of the game, but a one out walk in the bottom of the second, would set the stage, and down to their final strike, the Gaels would see
Sam Buckley leave the yard for the 14th time this season. Buckley already owned the program single season home run record, but this game winning two run blast also gave her the single season RBI record, as she has now driven in 40. The win guarantees the Gaels their second consecutive winning season, something that they have never before accomplished in program history. Across the Bay, Santa Clara fell to LMU in their finale, meaning that the Gaels and Broncos are tied for the top spot in the WCC with three games each to go.
Mia Nishikawa was picked to start things off in the circle in game three, and allowed the first two batters to reach, netting San Diego an early 1-0 lead. She would settle in to retire the next five straight, but with two outs in the seconds, would issue her lone free pass of the outing, followed by a double, giving the Toreros a 2-0 lead. Nishikawa would face the minimum in the third, inducing her second double play of the outing in the third frame, before handing the ball to Odhi Vasquez. Down 2-0, Vasquez understood the assignment, and faced 14 batters, retiring 12 of them, surrendering just one hit and no runs while striking out three over the final four innings. This would set the stage for the Gaels comeback.
Just like in game two yesterday, the Gaels would take advantage of a San Diego error to score a run. Jenavee Amador would lead off the frame with a walk, and was run for by Julia Medina. With one out, Mia Zabat dropped down a sacrifice bunt, but the throw was not corralled by the Torero second baseman covering first, as Zabat would reach safely, and Medina would move from first to third. Ninth place hitter Kiah Silva would then poke a ball to right, scoring Medina on a sacrifice fly. Sam Buckley would drop a bunt single down, and Zabat would take two bases on a savvy baserunning play, but eventually would be stranded as the tying run at third.
Down 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh, with one away, Head Coach Sonja Garnett would call upon senior Claudia Kirchner to pinch hit. Kirchner worked a walk in game two yesterday, and demonstrated her signature plate discipline again, setting the table with one away. Kiah Silva slapped a ball to third, advancing Zabat, who re-entered to run for Kirchner, up to second, bringing up Sam Buckley with the tying run at second. Buckley had no thought of tying the game, however, taking a 2-2 pitch to right center, for her 14th home run of the year, securing the three game sweep for the Gaels.
The Gaels were limited to just three hits in the contest, two of which belonged to Buckley; a bunt single and a two run home run. Buckley has now tied teammate Camille Lara for the team lead with 51 hits this year. The only other hit for Saint Mary's was a two out double in the first hit by Victoria Castillo, who now has moved her hit streak to eight consecutive games, one shy of the season long of nine in a row, owned by both Camille Lara and Alex Cutonilli.
UP NEXT
The regular season will finish up for the Gaels in Los Angeles, as they will take on LMU for a three game set on Friday and Saturday, May 9 and 10. Saint Mary's is tied with Santa Clara for the top spot in the conference, as both teams hold a 1.5 game lead on third place LMU. That series will begin with a single game at 2 PM on Friday, followed by a doubleheader beginning at 11 AM on Saturday.
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