MORAGA, Calif. – The San Diego softball program (14-22-1, 0-1 WCC) delivered an early comeback, but could not hang on, falling 8-4 in game one at Saint Mary's (10-16, 1-0 WCC) on Friday afternoon at Cottrell Field.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Dealing with steady rain throughout the game, both sides struggled with the playing conditions.
- Saint Mary's struck first in the opening inning as the result of a San Diego error for a 1-0 advantage.
- From there, the two sides attempted to break through, as Courtney Rose worked around some walks with five strikeouts on the day.
- The Gaels extended the lead as the rain began to pick up, scoring two more runs in the fourth inning on an error to make it 3-0.
- Needing a response, the Toreros reached twice on back-to-back fielding errors from the Gaels to force their starter out of the game in the fifth inning.
- After both Amanda Limon and Izzy Owen advanced on a wild pitch, Mikalyn Emanuelli made Saint Mary's pay with a ringing double over the center fielder's head to make it 3-2.
- Arisa Tovar added a single, but the game would go into a 2:42 rain delay and picked up with runners on the corners and nobody out.
- When play resumed, the Toreros got a stolen base from Savannah Alarcon, before Taylor Johnson tied the game on an RBI sacrifice fly.
- Emma Giaime delivered the lead right after Johnson, flicking a single into shallow left field for a 4-3 lead.
- However, the Gaels were able to retake the lead in the fifth inning with three more runs.
- After the Gaels extended the lead to 8-4, the Toreros nearly completed a late comeback.
- Tovar opened the seventh inning with a walk and Giaime drew a hit by pitch. From there, Joecellia Roberts singled to load the bases.
- However, the Toreros were unable to break through in the end, as the Gaels earned the victory.
TORERO TIDBITS
- With her two RBI double, Emanuelli extended her on-base streak to 14 consecutive games.
- Alexia Torculas made her season debut in the loss, coming in as a pinch-hitter. The redshirt senior was named to the All-WCC Preseason Team, but missed the first 36 games with an injury.
- Rose made her 91st collegiate appearance and continues to close in on the top-10, needing four more to join teammate Madison Earnshaw in the rankings.
UP NEXT
The Toreros will continue the series with Saint Mary's, with a doubleheader on Saturday at 10 a.m., and 12:30 p.m. Both games will be streamed via the WCC Network.