SB | Gaels Split with Colorado State and Sacramento State in Day One of the NorCal Kickoff

Friday, February 6

Sacramento, CA

12:00 PM

Saint Mary's College of California

1-0

Colorado State

1-1

Colorado State

Saint Mary's

Hannah Ferguson: 2-4, 3B, R

Photo by: Ryan Barnett / SMC Athletics

SB | Gaels Split with Colorado State and Sacramento State in Day One of the NorCal Kickoff

2/6/2026 6:24:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Highlights

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Saint Mary's played in a pair of tightly contested games to open its season at the NorCal Kickoff, defeating Colorado State 6-5, then falling to host Sacramento State 2-0 on Friday night. The Gaels showed tremendous grit and fortitude falling behind early in both contests, but refusing to bow out of either fight, ultimately earning the split.

Four Gaels recorded two hits over the two games, headlined by Hannah Ferguson and Mia Zabat, each going 2-4. Ferguson, making her first appearance since 2024, laced an opposite field triple in her first plate appearance back, eventually scoring the go-ahead run against the Rams. Zabat drove in that Ferguson run in the sixth inning against Colorado State. Odhi Vasquez pitched in both contests, picking up the save in the victory over the Rams, and went the complete game against the Hornets, ultimately being hung up with the tough luck loss despite surrendering just two runs on three hits and fanning seven.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Gaels battled back from a 2-0 first inning deficit against Colorado State. The deficit was cut in half the fourth, following an Alex Cutonilli double and an rbi single back up the middle by Isabella Scolini. Cutonilli was involved in the next Gaels run as well, working a bases loaded walk, part of a three run bottom of the fifth. After the Rams leveled things up at 4-4 in the sixth, the Gaels turned to their veteran Hannah Ferguson, who missed all of last season, but she played as if she missed no time at all, tripling to left. Mia Zabat drove in Ferguson with a bunt single, one of three infield singles in the inning, ultimately resulting in another run, pushing Saint Mary's ahead 6-4. Colorado State scored one in the seventh, but Coach Sonja Garnett went to Odhi Vasquez out of the bullpen, who retired the side for her first save of the year.

Odhi Vasquez got the ball to start in game two against host Sacramento State. After a leadoff home run, the senior from Upland settled in nicely, surrendering no hits through the next 5.2 innings, fanning seven. The Gaels did collect a pair of hits in the contest, one from Hannah Ferguson and one from Camille Lara, but neither were able to advance beyond first base, as the Gaels dropped the narrow 2-0 decision.

GAME NOTES

Four Gaels recruited two hits in the twin bill (Hannah Ferguson, Mia Zabat, Tori Cervantes and Victoria Castillo) with Ferguson being the lone Gael to record a hit in both contests.
Ferguson made a triumphant return to action after missing all of last season with injury. The redshirt junior went 2-4 with a triple to move her career batting average to 0.316 (8th best in program history).
Odhi Vasquez pitched twice in the same day for just the fifth time in her career. Her final line for the day was an impressive 6.2 innings pitched, two runs allowed, three hits allowed and eight strikeouts, all while earning her fourth career save.
The Gaels dropped down five bunts on the day, four resulting in hits and one going down as a sacrifice, demonstrating their willingness to play small ball this season.
This is the fifth time in Coach Sonja Garnett's tenure that the Gaels have won a game on opening day.

Saint Mary's will be back in action tomorrow for another double dip on the diamond. The Gaels will first take on Cal Poly at 9:30 AM, followed by a 12 PM rematch with Sacramento State.

#GaelsRise