Friday, February 27
College Station, TX
9:30 AM
Saint Mary's College of California
9-5
3
vs
1
Kennesaw State
4-10
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Saint Mary's
1
0
1
1
0
0
0
3
9
1
Kennesaw State
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
4
0
Alex Cutonilli: 3-for-7 2 RBI
Photo by: Ryan Barnett / SMC Athletics
SB | Gaels Split with Kennesaw State and Louisiana on Day One of the TAMU Invitational
2/27/2026 6:32:00 PM | Softball
COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Playing in their third pre-conference tournament in four weeks, the Gaels opened up play in the TAMU Invitational with a win against Kennesaw State, 3-1, and a loss to Louisiana, 6-1. Saint Mary's continues to play high level softball against quality programs throughout the country, and today was no exception.
Four different logged at least a hit in both contests, including three hits each from Camille Lara, Alex Cutonilli and Dominique Oliveira. Cutonilli also drove in a pair to lead the charge offensively for Saint Mary's, while Tori Cervantes logged the Gaels only extra base hit of the day, a triple. The Gaels used three different pitchers over the two contests, headlined by a complete game victory for true freshman Madeline Haun, fanning a career-high seven in her return to her home state of Texas.
HOW IT HAPPENED
GAME ONE | Saint Mary's 3, Kennesaw State 1
Saint Mary's (9-6) jumped out of the gates hot in their first visit to Davis Diamond, loading the bases in the top of the first, with Alex Cutonilli driving home the first run on an RBI groundout, plating Sam Buckley. Kennesaw State (4-11) responded with a run in the bottom half of the first, but that was the only run that Madeline Haun would surrender. The Gaels would pull ahead in the third when Buckley led of the frame with a single, and was once again driven in by Cutonilli, this time with a two out infield single, and would add an insurance run in the fourth when Tori Cervantes tripled home Dominique Oliveira.
Haun was terrific in the circle, moving to 2-1 on the year with her first career complete game. In seven innings full, the freshman Texan allowed just one run on four hits and struck out a career best seven. Most impressively, Haun worked out of two bases loaded jams, keeping the Gaels lead intact throughout the final five frames, stranding seven Owl runners in total.
GAME TWO | Louisiana 6, Saint Mary's 1
A first inning grand slam for the Ragin' Cajuns (12-6) would put them on the front foot throughout the contest, but the Gaels hung tough in this one, making sure that things did not get out of hand. Loading the bases in the second, on three straight singles from Victoria Castillo, Alex Cutonilli and Dominique Oliveira, the Gaels scratched one across when Castillo scored on a double play. That was all the offense the Gaels could muster, however, against Louisiana's ace Bethany Noble, who entered the day with a sub-1.00 ERA.
Mia Nishikawa shook off the rocky first inning to allow just one more run over the next three frames, while Ella Thurman closed out the game surrendering just a run and two hits over the final two. Catcher Dominique Oliveira got a chance to show off the arm behind the dish, recording her first runner caught stealing on the season.
GAME NOTES
The Gaels will see Louisiana at noon tomorrow, before taking on 15th ranked host Texas A&M under the lights at 5 PM (7 PM local) at Davis Diamond.
#GaelsRise
Four different logged at least a hit in both contests, including three hits each from Camille Lara, Alex Cutonilli and Dominique Oliveira. Cutonilli also drove in a pair to lead the charge offensively for Saint Mary's, while Tori Cervantes logged the Gaels only extra base hit of the day, a triple. The Gaels used three different pitchers over the two contests, headlined by a complete game victory for true freshman Madeline Haun, fanning a career-high seven in her return to her home state of Texas.
HOW IT HAPPENED
GAME ONE | Saint Mary's 3, Kennesaw State 1
Saint Mary's (9-6) jumped out of the gates hot in their first visit to Davis Diamond, loading the bases in the top of the first, with Alex Cutonilli driving home the first run on an RBI groundout, plating Sam Buckley. Kennesaw State (4-11) responded with a run in the bottom half of the first, but that was the only run that Madeline Haun would surrender. The Gaels would pull ahead in the third when Buckley led of the frame with a single, and was once again driven in by Cutonilli, this time with a two out infield single, and would add an insurance run in the fourth when Tori Cervantes tripled home Dominique Oliveira.
Haun was terrific in the circle, moving to 2-1 on the year with her first career complete game. In seven innings full, the freshman Texan allowed just one run on four hits and struck out a career best seven. Most impressively, Haun worked out of two bases loaded jams, keeping the Gaels lead intact throughout the final five frames, stranding seven Owl runners in total.
GAME TWO | Louisiana 6, Saint Mary's 1
A first inning grand slam for the Ragin' Cajuns (12-6) would put them on the front foot throughout the contest, but the Gaels hung tough in this one, making sure that things did not get out of hand. Loading the bases in the second, on three straight singles from Victoria Castillo, Alex Cutonilli and Dominique Oliveira, the Gaels scratched one across when Castillo scored on a double play. That was all the offense the Gaels could muster, however, against Louisiana's ace Bethany Noble, who entered the day with a sub-1.00 ERA.
Mia Nishikawa shook off the rocky first inning to allow just one more run over the next three frames, while Ella Thurman closed out the game surrendering just a run and two hits over the final two. Catcher Dominique Oliveira got a chance to show off the arm behind the dish, recording her first runner caught stealing on the season.
GAME NOTES
- The Gaels logged their first win in program history over the Kennesaw State Owls, winning the pitcher's duel, 3-1 in game one today.
- Madeline Haun returned to her home state of Texas and recorded a career-high seven strikeouts in her first collegiate complete game. Haun is now tied with Odhi Vasquez for the team lead with 22 strikeouts.
- Five times in her six collegiate outings, Haun has now set and re-set her single game strikeout high, with two in her debut against Colorado State, three against Sacramento State 24 hours later, four against Washington two weeks thereafter, six against South Carolina 24 hours after the Washington game, and now seven today.
- Alex Cutonilli drove in a pair against the Owls, her second multi-RBI game of the season. She now ranks second for the Gaels with seven total RBI.
- Camille Lara extended her consecutive games on-base streak to seven in a row, and her hit streak to six games in a row. She also now has five multi-hit ballgames, tied with Hannah Ferguson for the team lead.
The Gaels will see Louisiana at noon tomorrow, before taking on 15th ranked host Texas A&M under the lights at 5 PM (7 PM local) at Davis Diamond.
#GaelsRise
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Haun, Madeline (2-1)
L: Leah Jannakos (4-1)
Batting:
3B: Cervantes, Tori 1
RBI: Cutonilli, Alex 2 ; Cervantes, Tori 1
SH: Medina, Julia 1 ; Cervantes, Tori 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Buckley, Sam 2 ; Oliveira, Dominique 1
SB: Cutonilli, Alex 1
CS: Oliveira, Dominique 1
HBP: Buckley, Sam 1 ; Brown, Braxton 1
Batting:
2B: Ava Guzowski 1
RBI: Ava Guzowski 1
SH: Hannah Harvey 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ana Gore 1
HBP: Ava Brooke Stricklan 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
2
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
2
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF
/ SoftballUTL
/ SoftballINF
/ SoftballINF
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballRHP
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballP
/ SoftballC
/ SoftballP/INF
/ SoftballRHP
/ SoftballSB | Braxton Brown Highlights vs San Diego State
Monday, February 23
SB | Saint Mary's vs. Long Beach State Highlights, 2-22-26
Sunday, February 22
SB | Saint Mary's vs. No. 22 South Carolina Highlights, 2-21-26
Saturday, February 21
SB | Saint Mary's vs. Hawaii Highlights, 2-21-26
Saturday, February 21
