Box Score

MORAGA, Calif. -- The USD softball team (29-22, 8-6) split their doubleheader at Saint Mary's on Saturday. The Toreros rallied to win the first game 4-2 in nine innings on a Caitlin Rooney two-run home run, but were shutout 2-0 in their second game.

Game one was an extra-inning thriller in which Megan Sabbatini allowed just one earned run in nine innings. The Gaels got on the scoreboard first, scoring a run with two outs in the second on a defensive miscue by the Toreros.

The Toreros were held in check by the Gaels' Kate Moss and didn't record their first hit until the seventh inning. But down 1-0 with their backs against the wall, the Toreros not only got their first hit, but took the lead. With runners on second and third, Chloe Kaneko singled to left field to bring home pinch-runner Hannah Gilliland. Coach McElvain then rolled the dice and called for a suicide squeeze from senior Caitlin Rooney, who laid down a perfect bunt to allow pinch-runner Sarah Stone to score the go-ahead run.

The Gaels responded to tie it up at 2-2 with a two-out single to right field to bring home a runner from second and send the game to extra-innings.

In the ninth inning after the first two USD batters were retired, Kaneko singled up the middle. Rooney then launched a two-run home run to left field to give USD a 4-2 lead.

Sabbatini (2-2) retired the Gaels in order in the ninth to seal the victory and pick up her second win of the season and lower her season ERA to 2.14.

In game two, the Gaels once again struck first, scoring an unearned run on a single in the first inning.

Saint Mary's added to their lead in the sixth inning when Sara Lira hit a solo home run to left field.

Paige von Sprecken allowed just four hits but was saddled with the loss after allowing one earned run.

The Toreros wrap up the regular season on Sunday with a noon game, which will be shown on TheW.tv