MORAGA, Calif. – A baseball game rarely goes under two hours, but impressive pitching performances from both staffs led to a game that wrapped up in an hour and fifty-four minutes. The game was close throughout, but Saint Mary's (11-17, 7-6) used a late rally to take a 6-2 win over Pacific (10-21, 3-10).
"Today was a day for the pitchers," said Head Coach
Chris Rodriguez. "Both starters today threw well.
Grant Stevens was sharp today and had all three pitches working. He gave us another quality start. Offensively we had some chances that we were not able to capitalize on.
Chaz Myers put a couple of really good swings on the ball today! We need to rally back and respond tomorrow."
The Tigers' offense was all junior
Chaz Myers. The Pacific infielder hit two solo home runs to account for the Tigers' scoring. Junior
Chase Graves had two hits.
Senior
Grant Stevens started the game and pitched 7.0 innings with eight strikeouts, a season-high for Stevens. The lefty allowed three earned runs and did not walk a batter. Sophomore
Owen McWilliam pitched one inning with one hit and two earned runs.
Saint Mary's was hitless through the first three innings as Stevens was locked in early. Pacific had two runners in scoring position in the second inning, but a fielder's choice and a pick-off ended the threat for the Tigers. The Gaels scored once in the fourth to break the scoreless tie and take the first lead of the game.
The scoring took off in the back third of the game, Myers tied the game with a solo home run to left field in the top of the seventh. The Gaels responded in the bottom of the inning with three runs on three hits and two Tiger errors.
A two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth extended the Saint Mary's lead to five runs with one inning to go for Pacific.
Myers hit home run number two in the top of the ninth inning, once again to left field. However, the Pacific rally was halted after that as two straight-outs ended the game.
The two teams are back in action tomorrow. The first pitch will be at 1 p.m.
