April 30, 2008

Box Score - Game One

Box Score - Game Two

Fresno, CA - The Saint Mary's softball team stunned No. 9 ranked Fresno State Wednesday night, as they split the double header against the Bulldogs, losing 5-0 and winning 4-3. The Gaels made the most of their long road trip, as they left the morning of the double-header and returned that night, as they improve to 26-23 on the season. The Gaels handed Fresno State just their ninth loss of the season, as they have accumulated a 46-9 mark.

Saint Mary's victory came in the second game of the night, defeating the Bulldogs 4-3 in a game that came down to the very last pitch. Three Gaels made key contributions offensively, recording two hits apiece, as Jenna Smith, Sandra Ruezga, and Kat Delpit all went for a multi-hit game. The sophomore infielder, Delpit, quite possibly had the biggest homerun of her career thus far, tagging a three-run round tripper in the top of the fourth inning. The final run of the game came off three consecutive singles, as Megan Galloway brought home Molly Bergeson off a single to right field.

Freshman Maryanne Cronin tabbed the win in the circle for Saint Mary's, as she pitched the complete game, while holding the No. 9 ranked Bulldogs to nine hits and three runs. The right hander did not allow any extra-base hits, as she improves to 10-5 on the season.

In the final inning of the ball game Cronin managed to force her first batter to ground out to the shortstop, but back-to-back Bulldog singles made things interesting. The next batter would send a fly ball to Galloway in right field, allowing the Bulldog runner on second to tag and advance to third. With two runners on base, one in scoring position, senior Bronwyn Russell made a stellar defensive play to catch a blooper over her shoulder, sealing the victory for Saint Mary's.

In the first game of the double-header the Gaels could not find a solution for Bulldog pitcher, Morgan Melloh, as she held Saint Mary's to four hits and no runs, while recording 13 strikeouts.

The Gaels look to keep their momentum rolling into the weekend, as they host Loyola Marymount in their final Pacific Coast Softball series. The match-up will decide who wins the PCSC Championship, along with who will earned the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. Saint Mary's will first face the Lions on Saturday, May 3 at 12:00 PM in a double-header.