March 22, 2008

Box Score-game 1

Box Score-game 2

Santa Barbara, CA - At the end of the day sophomore's Scott Schneider (4-1) and Brandon Berl (3-2) were unable to get out of the big inning, as Saint Mary's (13-7-1) lost both games of the double header, 11-4 and 6-0, to host UC Santa Barbara (14-7) on Saturday. The two losses gave the series to the Gauchos; making it only the second series the Gaels have lost this season.

Schneider had won his four previous starts going at least six innings in every game this season. Today however, Schneider fell victim to the big inning, something he had avoided all year, as the Gauchos tagged Schneider for eight hits, 10 runs, seven earned runs, while walking three and striking out five.

The bottom of the second proved to be the costly inning for Schneider as he gave up a three run homerun to senior Matt McColgan. Costly errors by the Gaels kept the inning alive as the Gauchos rallied for six runs in the inning, putting UCSB on top 7-0.

The Gaels knocked in a pair in the top of the fifth off a two run homerun from senior Ian Gordon. The homerun was Gordon's third of the year. The Gordon homerun was all the excitement the Gaels could muster as the offense could only manage four runs on five hits all day.

UCSB senior starting pitcher Chuck Huggins (4-1) was very sharp on the day going 5.2 innings, surrendering 4 hits, the four earned runs, while walking four and striking out four. However, the key to the Gauchos was the bullpen, as senior Mike Martin went 3.1 innings, giving up just one hit, and striking out three for his first save of the season.

Game two did not fair much better for the Gaels starting pitchers as Berl tagged for his second loss of the season. Berl threw six complete innings, surrendering eight hits, six runs, four of them earned, two walks and five strikeouts.

Again in the second game Saint Mary's could not get it going offensively, as the Gaels could only manage five hits on the day. Two of those hits came from sophomore first baseman Anthony Aliotti.

On the mound for the Gauchos was redshirt freshman Mario Hollands (3-1), who went six complete innings, scattering five hits, zero runs, no walks, and six strike outs.

The Gaels will return home for a long home stand starting Tuesday, as they host UC Davis on Tuesday March 25 at Louis Guisto Field. The game is slated for a 2:00 PM start, this will be the final tune-up for the Gaels before WCC play begins when SMC hosts USF for a three game series next weekend at the Guisto.