Saturday, March 21
Greeley, CO
10:00 AM
Saint Mary's College of California
20-10
12
at
4
Northern Colorado
14-17
1st innning1
2nd innning2
3rd innning3
4th innning4
5th innning5
6th innning6
RunsR
HitsH
ErrorsE
Saint Mary's
0
4
4
2
1
1
12
14
0
Northern Colorado
1
0
3
0
0
0
4
5
1
Sam Buckley: 6-for-7 2 2B, 3 HR, 8 RBI
Photo by: Jesus Ayala / UNCO Athletics
SB | Gaels Off to Best Start in Program History After Finishing Sweep of Northern Colorado
3/21/2026 7:52:00 PM | Softball
GREELEY, Colo. — The epic start to the 2026 campaign for the Saint Mary's softball team continued on Saturday afternoon, as the Gaels took both halves of their doubleheader over the Northern Colorado Bears, 12-4 and 9-4. The Gaels have now surpassed their 19-10 best start in program history set two years ago, currently sitting with a record of 21-10.
Sam Buckley was the player of the day for the Gaels, going 6-for-7 at the plate in the twin bill, with two doubles, three home runs and eight RBI. Sophomore Mia Zabat also had a strong day at the plate, going 4-for-7 and scoring three times. In the circle, Madeline Haun pitched in both contests, picking up a save with three scoreless relief innings in game one, and a win starting game two.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game One | Saint Mary's 12, Northern Colorado 4 (6 Innings)
After falling behind 1-0 in the bottom of the first, the Gaels responded with their offensive fire power in the top of the second, with Sam Buckley jumping the yard to knot things up, and, five batters later, Hannah Ferguson also going yard, with two others on base to push the Gaels in front 4-1. The Gaels piled it on with four more runs in the fourth, including RBI hits from Buckley and Taylor Lane and at the midway point of game one, the Saint Mary's led, 8-1.
A three run blast from the Bears would cut the Gaels lead to four runs, but Odhi Vasquez would close out the third with her fifth strikeouts, ending her day. Madeline Haun entered from the pen, and would surrender just one hit over the next three innings. The Gaels would add two runs in the fourth on back-to-back blasts from Braxton Brown and Buckley, and a run each in the fifth and sixth. Haun retired the side in the bottom of the sixth without allowing a run, ending the game in run-rule fashion, 12-4.
Game Two | Saint Mary's 9, Northern Colorado 4
Alex Cutonilli would open the scoring for the Gaels in game two with a first inning RBI single, plating Hannah Ferguson, and, two batters later, Sam Buckley would launch her third home run of the day, bringing the score to 4-0 Gaels. That lead, unfortunately, would be short lived, as the Bears responded with four in the bottom of the second inning, bringing the score level.
Camille Lara led off the third with a double, and came around to score the go-ahead run off the bat of Alex Cutonilli. Cutonilli would also score in the third as a key insurance run for the Gaels. Starter Madeline Haun hung up a zero in response to the four run second inning in the third, but ran into some trouble in the fourth, allowing two of the first three batters to reach. A call to the bullpen brought out Ella Thurman, who would close out the game, going the final 3.2, surrendering just one hit, while fanning four. The Gaels added a run in the fourth and two in the seventh, to close out the three game sweep with a 9-4 series finale win.
GAME NOTES
The Gaels will return home next weekend for their WCC opening three game series with Pacific, spanning from March 27-29.
#GaelsRise
Sam Buckley was the player of the day for the Gaels, going 6-for-7 at the plate in the twin bill, with two doubles, three home runs and eight RBI. Sophomore Mia Zabat also had a strong day at the plate, going 4-for-7 and scoring three times. In the circle, Madeline Haun pitched in both contests, picking up a save with three scoreless relief innings in game one, and a win starting game two.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game One | Saint Mary's 12, Northern Colorado 4 (6 Innings)
After falling behind 1-0 in the bottom of the first, the Gaels responded with their offensive fire power in the top of the second, with Sam Buckley jumping the yard to knot things up, and, five batters later, Hannah Ferguson also going yard, with two others on base to push the Gaels in front 4-1. The Gaels piled it on with four more runs in the fourth, including RBI hits from Buckley and Taylor Lane and at the midway point of game one, the Saint Mary's led, 8-1.
A three run blast from the Bears would cut the Gaels lead to four runs, but Odhi Vasquez would close out the third with her fifth strikeouts, ending her day. Madeline Haun entered from the pen, and would surrender just one hit over the next three innings. The Gaels would add two runs in the fourth on back-to-back blasts from Braxton Brown and Buckley, and a run each in the fifth and sixth. Haun retired the side in the bottom of the sixth without allowing a run, ending the game in run-rule fashion, 12-4.
Game Two | Saint Mary's 9, Northern Colorado 4
Alex Cutonilli would open the scoring for the Gaels in game two with a first inning RBI single, plating Hannah Ferguson, and, two batters later, Sam Buckley would launch her third home run of the day, bringing the score to 4-0 Gaels. That lead, unfortunately, would be short lived, as the Bears responded with four in the bottom of the second inning, bringing the score level.
Camille Lara led off the third with a double, and came around to score the go-ahead run off the bat of Alex Cutonilli. Cutonilli would also score in the third as a key insurance run for the Gaels. Starter Madeline Haun hung up a zero in response to the four run second inning in the third, but ran into some trouble in the fourth, allowing two of the first three batters to reach. A call to the bullpen brought out Ella Thurman, who would close out the game, going the final 3.2, surrendering just one hit, while fanning four. The Gaels added a run in the fourth and two in the seventh, to close out the three game sweep with a 9-4 series finale win.
GAME NOTES
- The Gaels are now officially off to their best start in program history, at 21-10. Their previous best came in 2024 when they opened 19-10. That was the last season the Gaels made it to an NCAA Regional.
- Saint Mary's also prolonged their season-best seven game win streak. This streak matches the Gaels longest win streak from last season. The last time the Gaels won more than seven straight all the way back in 2010, when they won eight in a row.
- Sam Buckley went a combined 6-for-7 at the plate today, bringing her career average to .375, still good for best in program history. She also mashed three home runs, bringing her career tally to 24, one shy of the program record of 25, owned by Jenna Smith. She also ranks fifth in program history with 92 career RBI, and third with 105 career runs scored.
- Braxton Brown launched her seventh home run of the season, and now ranks in the top-10 for single season home runs hit.
- Hannah Ferguson moved into the top-five in program history, swiping her 54th career bag.
- Odhi Vasquez picked up her 10th win of the season, marking her third straight year with double-digit victories.
The Gaels will return home next weekend for their WCC opening three game series with Pacific, spanning from March 27-29.
#GaelsRise
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Vasquez, Odhi (10-2)
L: Wilming, Anna (6-6)
S: Haun, Madeline (2)
Batting:
2B: Lara, Camille 1 ; Brown, Braxton 1 ; Buckley, Sam 2
HR: Ferguson, Hannah 1 ; Brown, Braxton 1 ; Buckley, Sam 2
RBI: Ferguson, Hannah 3 ; Lara, Camille 1 ; Brown, Braxton 1 ; Buckley, Sam 4 ; Lane, Taylor 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ferguson, Hannah 1 ; Brown, Braxton 2 ; Tran, Lauren 1 ; Buckley, Sam 3 ; Prescott, Averie 2 ; Zabat, Mia 3
SB: Ferguson, Hannah 1 ; Cutonilli, Alex 1 ; Buckley, Sam 1
Batting:
2B: Christie, Kk 1 ; Gonzales, Ella 2
HR: Nelson, Hayden 1
RBI: Gonzales, Ella 1 ; Nelson, Hayden 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Christie, Kk 1 ; Gonzales, Ella 1 ; Walling, Katie 1 ; Nelson, Hayden 1
SB: Walling, Katie 1 ; Francia, Krista 1
HBP: Harrington, Emma 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
3
H
4
RBI
4
AB
4
R
2
H
3
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
3
Players Mentioned
P/INF
/ SoftballINF
/ SoftballINF
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballRHP
/ SoftballINF
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballP/INF
/ SoftballRHP
/ SoftballSB | Saint Mary's at Northern Colorado (DH) Highlights, 3-21-26
Saturday, March 21
SB | Saint Mary's at Northern Colorado, 3-20-26
Friday, March 20
SB | Saint Mary's at Colorado State Highlights, 3-19-26
Thursday, March 19
SB | Hannah Ferguson Highlights vs Montana, 3-12-26
Monday, March 16
