SB | Gaels Open Up Home Play Hosting CSUN for a Three Game Set

Friday, February 13

Moraga, CA

12:30 PM

Saint Mary's College of California

CSUN

Ella Thurman Receives Return Throw at Davis

Ella Thurman Tossed a Pair of Complete Games on Opening Weekend

Photo by: Leroy Yau/UC Davis Athletics

SB | Gaels Open Up Home Play Hosting CSUN for a Three Game Set

2/11/2026 10:00:00 AM | Softball

MORAGA, Calif. — Gaels fans will get an early glimpse at the Saint Mary's Softball team, who will take to Cottrell Field for the first time this season for a three game set against CSUN on February 13 and 14. The Gaels opened the season at 2-3 in the season opening NorCal Kickoff, and will now look for a solid showing at home, where they have recorded a record of 33-24 over the last three seasons.

THE DETAILS
Saint Mary's Gaels vs CSUN Matadors (DH)
Friday, February 13 at 12:30 PM and 3 PM
Cottrell Field – Moraga, Calif.
WATCH (G1) | WATCH (G2) | LIVE STATS

Saint Mary's Gaels vs CSUN Matadors
Saturday, February 14 at 12 PM
Cottrell Field – Moraga, Calif.
WATCH | LIVE STATS

UNDERCLASSMEN PITCHING LIKE VETERANS
In week one of the season, Head Coach Sonja Garnett was able to demonstrate her team's pitching depth, not only utilizing veteran aces Odhi Vasquez and Mia Nishikawa, but also throwing freshman Madeline Haun and sophomore Ella Thurman, who both looked primed and ready to make impacts in the circle in 2026. Haun appeared twice out of the bullpen for the Gaels, tossing five innings, and recording a win in her debut against Colorado State, before pitching four stellar innings with a no decision in a 4-0 loss to Sacramento State. With five strikeouts and one walk over five full innings, Haun leads the Gaels in the early parts of the season in strikeout-to-walk ratio. Sophomore Ella Thurman made 12 appearances in the circle last year, including three starts, but never tossed a complete game. She worked two on opening weekend in 2026, going the distance in games three and five on the week, and splitting a pair of decisions against Cal Poly and UC Davis. Thurman was unfazed by traffic on the base paths, stranding 12 opposing runners over the two outings. She currently leads the Gaels with 13 innings pitched through one week of the season, and is one of just five players in the country to toss two complete games.

CASTILLO LEADS THE OFFENSIVE CHARGE
Through the first five games of the season, no Gael has had a bigger offensive impact than senior Victoria Castillo. The Salinas native leads the team with a 0.417 average, a 0.533 on-base percentage, a 1.033 slug, five hits and three runs scored. It is an exciting site to see Castillo picking up where she left off from last season. To end her junior campaign, Castillo reached base in 14 straight, and hit 0.432 in conference play.

ABOUT THE MATADORS
CSUN opened their season at the Easton Classic, hosted by Cal State Fullerton, dropping four of five contests. First year interim Head Coach Jodie Cox took the reins after serving as an assistant coach last year for the Matadors. In her first five games leading CSUN, her team has had no trouble manufacturing runs, scoring 4.2 per game, but has struggled in the circle, allowing opposing teams to hit 0.404 against them , and surrendering 11.4 runs per game. The offensive spark has been lit for CSUN by Raegan Jackson, Amber Rivas and Jadyn Nielsen, all batting 0.400 or better on the young campaign. On the pitching front, freshman ace Kaitlyn Tso has been a model of consistency, pitching in four of her first five collegiate games, holding a team-low 4.61 ERA and owning the Matadors lone win of the year after a six innings outing against Portland State. No other pitcher on staff has a sub-10.00 ERA. The Gaels are 3-12 all-time vs the Matadors, but won their last meeting a year ago at the Mary Nutter, 14-4.

#GaelsRise