SB | Lane’s Pinch Hit RBI Double Proves to be Enough, as Gaels Secure Series Victory with 2-1 Win Over Seattle U

Saturday, April 11

Seattle, WA

4:00 PM

Saint Mary's College of California

29-11, 5-0

Seattle U

17-21, 3-2

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Saint Mary's	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	2	5	0
Seattle U	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	6	1

Taylor Lane: 1-for-1 2B, go-ahead 2-out RBI

Photo by: Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner

SB | Lane’s Pinch Hit RBI Double Proves to be Enough, as Gaels Secure Series Victory with 2-1 Win Over Seattle U

4/11/2026 8:44:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Highlights

SEATTLE, Wash. — The Saint Mary's softball team secured its second West Coast Conference series win, defeating Seattle U 2-1 on Saturday afternoon to move to 2-0 for the weekend series. With the win, the Gaels improved their true road record back to .500 at 7-7, and will have a chance to move it to above .500, where their home and neutral records sit.

The Gaels (28-11, 5-0 WCC) used a three pitcher mix in what was another gem in the circle against Seattle U (17-21, 3-2 WCC). Mia Nishikawa earned the Saturday start, tossing the first three scoreless. She recorded the first two outs of the fourth, before surrendering the lone run of the game, and gave way to Madeline Haun out of the pen. Haun finished the fourth, and worked a scoreless fifth and sixth, giving up just one hit. Odhi Vasquez returned to the circle in the seventh, and logged her fourth save of the season, working around a pair of hits to strand the tying run 60 feet away from home.

Offensively, the Gaels logged just five hits, but three doubles, belonging to Alex Cutonilli, Mia Zabat and Taylor Lane. Cutonilli and Lane both drove in runs with their two baggers, while Zabat scored the eventual winning run on Lane's double.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Like the series opener, game two between the top two offenses in the West Coast Conference proved to be another pitcher's duel. Saint Mary's got their first base runner in the second, when Victoria Castillo reached on an error, then came around to score when Alex Cutonilli ripped a double to left center, plating her. The Redhawks drew level in the fourth, but weren't able to keep the tie for long, as in the top of the fifth, Mia Zabat led off the frame with a double, and, with two outs, Taylor Lane came off the bench to pinch hit, and traded places with Zabat for what would prove to be the game winning hit.

Starter Mia Nishikawa was brilliant through the first three frames, giving up just one hit. In the fourth, Nishikawa surrendered her second hit, which was sandwiched between a pair of outs, but a two out double by the Redhawks would chase her from the game. Freshman Madeline Haun came out of the pen, retired the lone batter she faced in the fourth, then gave up just one hit, an infield single, over the next two frames. Not messing around with a slim, one run lead, Sonja Garnett went to her bullpen again in the seventh, calling on her ace, Odhi Vasquez, to slam the door shut. Vasquez did surrender a pair of hits, but was able to strand the tying run at third, picking up her fourth save of the year.

GAME NOTES

The Gaels now move to 5-0 in West Coast Conference play, with the next closest team in the standings, Santa Clara, sitting at 7-2.
Taylor Lane provided the go-ahead hit in this one, a pinch hit RBI double, her first knock as a pinch hitter this season.
The RBI was Lane's 85th career RBI, moving her into ninth most in program history.
The Gaels' first run of the game was driven in by Alex Cutonilli with a two bagger, her 29th career double, good for seventh most in program history.
Before surrendering her lone run of the game, Mia Nishikawa ran her scoreless inning streak to 9.1 straight innings.
Madeline Haun picked up the fifth win of her freshman year. She is now 3-0 in 12 bullpen outings to go along with her two wins earned in her seven starts.
Odhi Vasquez made her 100th career appearance as a Gael in the circle, picking up her fourth save of the year. She is the 10th ever Gael to make 100 pitching appearances.
Vasquez has now gone 19 outings without suffering a loss, and runs her scoreless streak to 19.2 straight innings, chasing her own record of 23.2 consecutive scoreless innings.