SB | Gaels’ Pitching Keep Lion Bats at Bay in 6-1 Victory

Saturday, May 2

Moraga, CA

1:00 PM

Saint Mary's College of California

37-13, 0

LMU

32-16, 0

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
LMU	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	4	2
Saint Mary's	2	0	0	0	0	4	X	6	13	2

Photo by: Ayanna Williams/SMC Athletics

SB | Gaels’ Pitching Keep Lion Bats at Bay in 6-1 Victory

5/2/2026 5:27:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Highlights

MORAGA, Calif. – The Saint Mary's softball team was able to draw level in game two of its three game series with LMU, defeating the Lions 6-1 on Saturday afternoon at Cottrell Field. The Gaels took an early 2-0 lead in the first, while the dynamic duo of Madeline Haun and Odhi Vasquez kept the Lions off balanced all game in the batters' box, limiting them to just one run and four hits.

The Gaels strung together double-digit hits for the fourth consecutive game, led by Hannah Ferguson, who logged her eighth 3+ hit ballgame of the season. Camille Lara, Kiah Silva and Alex Cutonilli each also logged multi-hit games, with Cutonilli and Braxton Brown each driving in a pair.

Madeline Haun picked up the Saturday start and tossed the first five frames scoreless. She allowed a leadoff single and a sacrifice bunt to start the sixth before giving way to Odhi Vasquez. Vasquez faced five batters, and set down five batters, surrendering just one run (charged to Haun) on a sacrifice fly, preserving win number nine for Haun and her WCC-best sixth save.

The victory sets up the Gaels with an opportunity to win at least a share of their third straight conference title on Sunday at Cottrell Field.

HOW IT HAPPENED
After a 1-2-3 top of the first featuring two strikeouts from Madeline Haun, the Gaels (37-13, 12-2 WCC) jumped on the Lions (32-16, 9-5 WCC) early in the bottom half. Hannah Ferguson got things going with a one out triple smacked down the left field line, and came in to score on a deep double to center off the bat of Alex Cutonilli. Braxton Brown then traded places with Cutonilli with an RBI double to center herself, giving the Gaels their first multi-run lead of the series.

The two runs were enough to chase the Lion starter Jessie Gilbert from the game, giving way to Angela Carrera, who was able to curtail the damage, working three full scoreless innings. As good as Carrera was, so too was Haun, surrendering just three hits and no runs through the first five frames. The Lions cut into the deficit, scoring a run in the sixth, as Haun gave way to Odhi Vasquez, who retired the final two outs of the sixth with the lead intact at 2-1.

The Gael offense came to life in the bottom of the sixth, as Mia Zabat and Camille Lara led off with back-to-back singles. Hannah Ferguson would reach on an infield single to second, and the throw got away from the Lion first baseman, allowing Zabat to score and Ferguson to move up to second. Cutonilli and Brown would each add their second RBI of the day on a groundout and sacrifice fly respectively, scoring Zabat and Ferguson, before Sam Buckley drove her second home run of the weekend over the right field fence, bringing the scoreline to 6-1. Vasquez returned to the circle for the seventh, and retired the side in order to secure the Gaels' 37th victory of the season.

GAME NOTES

With today's win, the Gaels restore their lead in the West Coast Conference standings to three games. This means that a win for Saint Mary's tomorrow would clinch a share of the West Coast Conference title for the third straight year.
Paired with a Seattle U victory over Santa Clara tomorrow, a Gaels win would secure the WCC Title outright and the automatic berth to the NCAA Regionals.
With a three hit ballgame today, Hannah Ferguson moved her career batting average to .348, good for fourth best in program history.
She also scored twice, moving her to within one run of the single season program record of 47, set last year by Sam Buckley.
Speaking of Buckley, she homered in her second straight contest against the Lions. She now leads the team with 10 this season, and continues to extend her program record with 28 for her career.
Buckley became the first ever Gael to have multiple double-digit home run seasons as well.
Braxton Brown drove in season RBI number 48 and 49, adding to her program record tally.
Madeline Haun has now gone 19 straight outings without suffering a loss, going 7-0 with two saves and a 3.66 ERA in that time.
Odhi Vasquez worked her WCC-best sixth save, which ranks fourth in the country.

The Gaels and Lions will play the rubber match of the three game set tomorrow with a scheduled 12 p.m. first pitch from Cottrell Field. As it will also be the final home game of the year for the Gaels, Saint Mary's graduating seniors will be honored in a pregame ceremony.

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