SB | Gaels Put Up Inspired Performance at Day Two of the Mary Nutter

Saturday, February 21

Cathedral City, CA

5:00 PM

Saint Mary's College of California

5-9

Hawaii

7-4

Hawai'i

Saint Mary's

Sam Buckley: 3-5 HR 3 R 2 RBI

Photo by: Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner

SB | Gaels Put Up Inspired Performance at Day Two of the Mary Nutter

2/21/2026 11:09:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Highlights vs Hawaii Highlights vs South Carolina

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. — Once again under the lights, the Saint Mary's Gaels gritted their way to another split on day two of the 2026 Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, defeating the Rainbow Wahine of Hawaii 4-2 before narrowly falling to the 22nd ranked Gamecocks of South Carolina, also by a 4-2 tally. One thing is clear after four games and two days at the Mary Nutter with one more to come; the Gaels are ready to go toe-to-toe with anyone in their path.

Against Hawaii, Braxton Brown picked up where she left off yesterday, with another first inning two run blast. She now leads the Gaels with a pair of round trippers. Camille Lara and Dominique Oliveira both notched two hit ballgames against the Rainbow Wahine, while Sam Buckley scored twice. Mia Nishikawa tossed five innings of one run softball, earning her second win of the season, while Odhi Vasquez slammed the door shut for her second save.

Sam Buckley launched her first home run of 2026 against South Carolina, also a two run first inning blast. In her first collegiate start, freshman Madeline Haun recorded six strikeouts against the Gamecocks, but was hung up with the tough luck loss in the narrow 4-2 decision.

GAME ONE: Saint Mary's 4, Hawaii 2
In deja vu fashion, Braxton Brown smashed a two run blast in the first inning to put the Gaels on the front foot. Saint Mary's manufactured two more runs in the third, while Mia Nishikawa rolled through the first five innings. She would surrender a run in the sixth before giving way to Odhi Vasquez, but the senior was able to minimize the surging Hawaii offense to just one more run, as the Gaels would take their second victory of the tournament. Nishikawa picked up her second win of the season in the circle, while Vasquez picked up her second save.

GAME TWO: South Carolina 4, Saint Mary's 2
Unphased by the number 22 in front of the name South Carolina, the Gaels jumped on the Gamecocks early with a two run home run from Sam Buckley in the first. True freshman Madeline Haun got the nod in the circle, and tossed five scoreless innings against the Gamecocks, fanning a career-high six. South Carolina would strike for one in the sixth and three in the seventh however, to narrowly stave off the Gaels herculean upset effort.

GAME NOTES

Camille Lara and Sam Buckley did a majority of the heavy lifting for the Gaels offense on day two, combining for six of Saint Mary's 11 hits on the evening.
Odhi Vasquez pitched in both contests tonight, meaning she has now pitched in all four contests for the Gaels at the Mary Nutter. The senior has now recorded a win, a loss, a save and a no decision in her four outings.
Braxton Brown launched her second home run of the season, giving her the team lead. She also ran her RBI total to 10, also good for top marks on the team.
Sam Buckley blasted her first home run of the 2026 season. Buckley set the program single season home run record last year with 14, and now has hit 19 for her career, tied for third most in program history.
After a gritty relief performance last night, Madeline Haun drew her first collegiate start against 22nd ranked South Carolina, and did an incredible job keeping their bats at bay, tossing five scoreless and fanning a career-high six, before giving up four runs in the final two innings.