SB | Gaels Get Set For Third NCAA Regional in Program History, Head to Eugene

Friday, May 15

Eugene, Ore.

4:30 PM

Saint Mary's College of California

Mississippi State

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Photo by: Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner

SB | Gaels Get Set For Third NCAA Regional in Program History, Head to Eugene

5/13/2026 3:00:00 PM | Softball

MORAGA, Calif. — An epic season for Saint Mary's Softball will continue in the NCAA Tournament, as the Gaels were selected as the three-seed in the Eugene Regional. This is the Gaels' third appearance at an NCAA Regional in program history and second in three years. Saint Mary's (40-14) won the West Coast Conference by a hefty four game margin, and have won 11 of its last 13 contests, riding momentum into the postseason.

THE DETAILS
Saint Mary's Gaels vs. No. 20 Mississippi State Bulldogs
Friday, May 15 at 4:30 p.m.
Jane Sanders Stadium – Eugene, Ore.
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Saint Mary's Gaels vs. No. 13 Oregon -OR- Idaho State
Saturday, May 16 at 2 p.m. -OR- 4:30 p.m.
Jane Sanders Stadium – Eugene, Ore.
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Eugene Regional Game 5
Saturday, May 16 at 7 p.m.
Jane Sanders Stadium – Eugene, Ore.
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Eugene Regional Game 6
Sunday, May 17 at 4:30 p.m.
Jane Sanders Stadium – Eugene, Ore.
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Eugene Regional Game 7 (If Necessary)
Sunday, May 17 at 7 p.m.
Jane Sanders Stadium – Eugene, Ore.
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A RUNNING TALLY OF RECORDS
The Saint Mary's softball team has shattered numerous team and individual records this season. Here is a running tally of the numerous feats accomplished by this year's incredible club. The Gaels smashed the previous program single season wins tally of 30, currently sitting with 40. They became just the second Saint Mary's Athletics program to reach 40 wins, joining the likes of the 1977 baseball team that went 41-13. The Gaels set program win streak records both overall, winning 12 straight from March 12 to April 3, and 18 straight at home dating back to the 2025 campaign. The Gaels climbed as high as 59th in the RPI, the best rating in program history, and have consistently received votes in the USA Softball/ESPN.com Top-25, also a program first. Three ranked wins for the Gaels marked a new single season high, as the Gaels defeated then 14th-ranked Washington twice and 24th-ranked Stanford as a part of the Stanford Cardinal Classic in early April, while 15 conference wins not only was a program best, but also the most by a WCC team since the conference began sponsoring the sport in 2014. Individually, Hannah Ferguson has led the record breaking charge, smashing four program bests, career triples (15), career stolen bases (62), single season triples (10), and single season runs scored (50). Sam Buckley broke the program home run record (29) and became the only Gael in program history with 100 runs scored and 100 RBI, while Braxton Brown broke Buckley's single season RBI tally from a year ago, currently with 54. Last but certainly not least is ace Odhi Vasquez, who broke the career wins record with 50, and became just the second ever Gael to record 400 strikeouts.

GARNETT SIGNS CONTRACT EXTENSION
After bringing Saint Mary's Softball to unprecedented heights in her first eight seasons, Head Coach Sonja Garnett has inked a six year contract extension. The two-time West Coast Conference Coach of the Year, Garnett has led the Gaels to three straight WCC Titles, headlined by just the second 40 win season for any program in all of Saint Mary's College athletics history. She is the second winningest coach in program history, and hold the best winning percentage of any coach in program history.

SAINT MARY'S REGIONAL HISTORY
The Gaels will look for their first postseason win in program history, after going 0-2 in both the 2010 and 2024 NCAA Regionals. In 2010, the Gaels played in the UCLA Regional, falling to the host Bruins and Fresno State. In 2024, the Gaels played in the Stanford Regional, falling to the host Cardinal and Cal State Fullerton. This is the first time the Gaels have been a three-seed in their regional, after being a four-seed in 2010 and 2024.

ABOUT THE OPPONENTS
The Gaels represent the three-seed in the four team Eugene Regional, and will open up play against the two-seed Mississippi State. The Bulldogs enter the tournament with a 38-18 record, but went just 9-15, good for 10th in the 15 team SEC. Seventh year head coach Samantha Ricketts has now guided her team to five NCAA Regionals in her tenure, and will look to take her team back to the Super Regional for the first time since 2022. The offense has been hot and cold for the Bulldogs this year, but the pitching and defense have been elite, with their staff ERA of 2.24 ranking eighth in the country and their 0.985 fielding percentage ranking second. Senior pitcher Peja Goold has led Mississippi State from the circle all year long, going 15-10 with a 2.12 ERA and 169 strikeouts while allowing opponents to hit just 0.177 against her. The Gaels are 1-0 all-time against the Bulldogs, with their lone matchup coming way back in 1997. Awaiting the Gaels in game two and beyond in the Eugene Regional are host Oregon and four-seed Idaho State. The Ducks, led by eighth year head coach Melyssa Lombardi, enter the tournament at 40-12, with half of those wins coming in Big 10 play, good for a second place finish. The Ducks are led by slugger Elon Butler, who leads her team in just about every offensive category. The Gaels are no stranger to Butler, who began her collegiate career at Cal. The Gaels are 3-19 all-time against Oregon. Idaho State will make its first NCAA Regional Appearance in program history. Fifth year head coach Andrew Rich is the man who has taken them to these new heights, and is one win away from a new program record win tally. A team built predominantly on offensive prowess, the Bengals are led by senior Sydney Day with her 19 homers and 61 RBIs. The Gaels saw Idaho State four times a year ago, taking three of four wins against the Bengals, and moving their all-time record against ISU to 10-4.

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