Moraga, CA – For the second day in a row head coach Jedd Soto got another beautiful pitching performance from his starter and his bullpen, and a five running second proved to be the difference in the game.  On the hill for the Gaels was starter Scott Schneider who improves his win total to 4-4 after throwing six strong innings.  Out of the pen reliever Brandon Berl proved to be too much as he pitched three lights out innings to seal the 5-3 win and the series for Saint Mary’s (23-17/5-6 WCC) over No. 24 San Diego (24-15/7-4 WCC).

In the first inning the two pitchers traded zeros, Schneider issued a pair of singles to Sean Nicol and James Meador, however Schneider retired the side without any issues, as Nicol was thrown out a second on stolen base attempt.  Torero’s starter Matt Thompson (6-2) issued a walk to Troy Channing, but got out of the inning after striking out Anthony Aliotti and Kyle Jensen.

The Gaels offense picked got things going in the bottom of the second; Mulligan led off the inning with a single to right center.  He moved over to third on the double down the left field line from Justin Fazio, putting runners at first and third with no outs.  Both runners moved up 90 feet on a passed ball, giving the Gaels a one nothing lead.  Chris Murphy reached first the hard way, after getting hit by a pitch in the back to put runners at the corner with one out for Michael Gastelum.  Gastelum did his job knocking a single to short right center field scoring Fazio from third.  A walk to Miller loaded the bases for Aliotti, after a lengthy battle Aliotti drew his 23 walk of the season, scoring Murphy.  Channing inched ever closer to the single season RBI record as he knocked in two with a double down the left field line, scoring Gastelum and Miller giving the Gaels a five to nothing lead.

In the top of the third Schneider did his job, sitting down the Toreros in order, getting the Gaels back to the plate.  Schneider got the inning started by striking out designated hitter Nick McCoy.  Schneider then got first baseman Bryan Haar to ground out 3-1 for the second out, and ended the inning with by striking out Nicol.  Through three Schneider had four strike outs.

Zach Walters’ two-out single in the top of the fourth was the first hit for the Toreros after nine consecutive outs.  San Diego threatened as they loaded the bases all after two outs, Steven Chatwood followed Walters’ single up with a single of his own through the left side.  Tony Strazzara followed that up with a walk to load the bases.  Schneider ended the inning without any damage after getting Hotta looking for the final out.

In the top of the fifth Schneider retired the side in order for the third time of the game, getting two strike outs and a ground out.  Through five Schneider struck out seven Toreros.

The Toreros got on the board in the top of the sixth inning; Meador got things started with a single up the middle.  He moved over to third on the error from Gastelum, giving San Diego runners at first and third.  Chatwood doubled down the left field line scoring Meador cutting the Saint Mary’s lead to four.  A four pitch walk to Strazzara loaded the bases for San Diego, bringing up Hotta.  Hotta drew a walk after falling behind 0-2, to bring in Walters and leave the bases loaded with just one out.  Schneider battled back collecting strike out number eight, getting the DH Lugo for the second time today.  The Gaels ended the Torero threat after some great glove work by the third baseman Channing who made a hard charge on a slow rolling grounder to his left, and threw out the a strike to Aliotti on the run to nail Haar for the final out.

In the bottom of the sixth San Diego turned the ball over to reliever Tyler Fick, ending the day for Thompson.  Thompson’s line on the afternoon 5.0 innings pitched, scattering four hits, five runs, four earned, three walks and four strike outs.  The Gaels used a pair of pinch hitters in the inning; Ryan Young led off the inning grounding out to the pitcher, and Greg Ditmer, who flied out to a laying out Meador in right field. 

Brandon Berl came into the game for the Gaels in the top of the seventh, ending the beautiful pitching performance from Schneider.  Schneider’s line on the day was 6.0 innings pitched, scattering six hits, two runs, none earned, three walks, and nine strike outs.  Berl got Nicol to ground out to Channing for the first out, he then got Engell fishing for the second.  Berl retired the side in order getting Meador to chase a fastball off the black for the third out.

In the top of the ninth San Diego made things interesting after Berl retired the first two batters.  Haar lined a ball into right field, and moved over to second on the single up the middle from Nicol.  Engell singled to left field scoring Haar and bringing up the potential go-head run in Meador.  Berl got ahead of Meador and then closed out the game getting Meador to fly out to centerfield, sealing the 5-3 win for Saint Mary’s.  Berl’s line for the day was 3.0 innings pitched, three hits, one earned run, no walks, four strike outs, and earned his sixth save of the season.

With the win SMC earned his first series victory over the Toreros since 2004.  Saint Mary’s goes for the sweep tomorrow at 1:00 PM, taking the mound for the Gaels is freshman Nathan Gonzales.