LOS ANGELES — The Saint Mary's Gaels (27-22, 10-3 WCC) moved one step closer to being crowned back-to-back WCC Champs, downing the LMU Lions (21-30, 6-7 WCC) 8-3 in game one of their three game set. The win for the Gaels eliminates the Lions from WCC Title contention, and guarantees that the Gaels will have a chance to lock up at least a share of the WCC Title tomorrow.
Saint Mary's struck first before the Lions had a chance to come to the plate. Camille Lara got things going with a sinking line drive to right field that made it to the wall, allowing the speedy sophomore to leg out a triple. A batter later, Victoria Castillo grounded Lara in and the Gaels jumped ahead early.
Mia Nishikawa got the start in the circle, but couldn't record an out, walking the first two batters before surrendering a three run blast. Enter Odhi Vasquez. The junior stopped the bleeding in the first, then hung up six more consecutive victories, earning her 12th victory of the year. The final line for Vasquez; seven full innings pitched, no runs allowed, eight hits, nine strikeouts and just two walks, as the Gaels stranded 10 Lions runners on the basepaths.
The Lions lead lasted until the top of the third. Tori Cervantes and Sam Buckley were plunked on consecutive plate appearances, and Camille Lara sacrificed them to second and third with a bunt. Victoria Castillo preserved her consecutive game hit streak, with her ninth, driving in Cervantes, bringing Taylor Lane to the plate. Lane hammered an elevated 0-1 pitch to the deepest part of the ballpark, and gave the Gaels a 5-3 lead. The home run was the Gaels 39th of the campaign, a new program record!
Two more insurance runs came across in the fourth, again off the bat of Taylor Lane, who this time singled Buckley and Lara home with two outs for RBI number four and five on the day. Buckley's run was her 46th scored this year, also a program record. With the bases loaded in the fifth, Buckley added another RBI to her already historic total, her 41st, and the Gaels led 8-3, where the final scoreline sat.
Taylor Lane led the charge for the Gaels, going 3-3 with a home run and five RBI. She joins Sam Buckley as the second Gael to drive in five in a game this season. Tori Cervantes logged her 11th multi hit ballgame with a pair of singles. Odhi Vasquez picked up her 12th victory of the season, besting her previous high of a 11 set last season.
The Gaels will play two more against LMU tomorrow, starting at 11 AM. While some scoreboard watching is necessary tonight with Santa Clara and Oregon State playing twice this evening, the Gaels would guarantee at least a share of the conference crown with a sweep of LMU, regardless of the Santa Clara - Oregon State result.
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