SB | Gaels Win Slugfest vs Cal Poly, Fall in Pitcher’s Duel with Sacramento State

Saturday, February 7

Sacramento, CA

9:30 AM

Saint Mary's College of California

2-1

Cal Poly

0-3

Cal Poly

Saint Mary's

Victoria Castillo: 2-5, 2 Runs Scored, RBI, SB

Photo by: Ryan Barnett / SMC Athletics

SB | Gaels Win Slugfest vs Cal Poly, Fall in Pitcher’s Duel with Sacramento State

2/7/2026 3:25:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Highlights

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Saint Mary's Gaels picked up another twin bill split on day two of the NorCal Kickoff on Saturday, defeating Cal Poly 8-4 before falling to Sacramento State 4-0. Both games had conflicting styles, with the Gael offense coming to life in game one against the Mustangs, and the Saint Mary's pitching keeping a formidable Hornet lineup at bay for the most part in game two.

Victoria Castillo led the Gaels' offense in the eight run output in game one, with a pair of hits and a walk, scoring twice and driving in one. It was a pair of underclassman pitchers who shined in the circle for the Gaels. In game one, sophomore Ella Thurman tossed her first collegiate complete game, working around 11 hits and a walk by stranding eight runners on the base paths en route to her first W of the season. In game two, freshman Madeline Haun made her second collegiate appearance, working four strong innings, fanning three and surrendering just one earned run, keeping the Gaels in the contest to the bitter end.

HOW IT HAPPENED
For the first time on the young campaign, the Gaels were able to dent the scoreboard first, as Taylor Lane led off the inning with a double, and was run for by Ruby Cuen Camacho, who came around to score the first run of the game and her career on a Camille Lara fielder's choice, sparking a three run inning. Cal Poly responded by shaving the deficit to one in the top of the third, but Saint Mary's kept the offense coming in the bottom half with five more runs, making the Mustangs pay for a pair of defensive miscues. Those eight runs were enough to carry the Gaels across the finish line for their second victory in as many days, as Ella Thurman went the full seven for her first win of the season.

Chelsea Bennett got the nod in the circle for game two, and escaped a bases loaded jam in the first against Sacramento State, with some help from Camille Lara, who recorded her second outfield assist of the week as part of a double play on an attempted sacrifice fly. The Hornets would load the bases again in the second, this time pushing across two runs. In the third, the Gaels called to freshman Madeline Haun out of the bullpen, and she answered the bell to the tune of four innings, three strikeouts and just two hits allowed. Unfortunately, the Hornets were able to plate two more (one earned, one unearned) and the Gaels were able to muster just one hit from Braxton Brown, eventually falling 4-0.

GAME NOTES

Victoria Castillo led the Gaels to an eight run onslaught against Cal Poly, logging two hits and two runs scored, while driving in one. She leads the Gaels through four games with a 0.400 average.
Julia Medina logged her first collegiate triple, driving in three runs against the Mustangs, also her first three collegiate RBI.
Ella Thurman pitched her first collegiate complete game. The sophomore was brilliant working around traffic on the basepaths, stranding eight Cal Poly baserunners.
On her birthday, true freshman Madeline Haun made a stellar relief outing in game two, working four innings out of the bullpen, and striking out three while allowing just two hits and one earned run.
Braxton Brown logged the Gaels lone hit in game two, her first of the season.

Saint Mary's will wrap up their showing at the NorCal Classic tomorrow at 9:30 AM as they take on the Aggies of UC Davis at La Rue Field in Davis.

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