Gaels Get Big Win in Conference Opener
The Saint Mary’s Gaels took game one of the conference opener this Friday against the Pacific Tigers backed by strong performances from Juniors Ryan Novis and Joe Vranesh.
Joe Vranesh and Ryan Novis helped the Gaels secure their sixth straight win in Friday’s match-up against conference contender, Pacific. Vranesh went 1–4, with a triple, a walk, and totaled two of the Gaels five runs. While Novis went 3–3, with a run, and two RBIs for the Gaels, bringing his batting average to a phenomenal .451.
The Gaels got on the board early with a two out triple by Joe Vranesh, who is hitting .415 17 games into the season, followed by fellow Junior outfielder Novis with a single up the middle to put Saint Mary’s on the board 1–0.
“It feels really good to open up conference with a win,” Novis said. “We all worked hard in the fall and everyone has bought in to the approach Coach V and Coach Peters have taught us.”
The Gaels continued to keep the throttle down early as four more runs crossed the plate by the fifth-inning to secure a controlling 5–0 lead over the Tigers. Go Diaz (Sophomore), Eddie Haus (Redshirt Senior), and Pre-Season All American Kevin Milam all contributed to the rally as well by tacking on a few hits and RBIs of their own.
The Pacific Tigers would keep the Gaels bats silent for the rest of the game as they made a push to close in on the Gaels lead. The Tigers tried to push a comeback with a two-run home run in the top of the eighth to cut the Gaels lead to 5–3, ending starting pitcher, Kevin Milam’s day on the mound. Milam finished with a stat line of seven innings, three runs, seven hits, and a HR.
Michael Hobbs entered the game in the eighth allowing no runs and one hit as he picked up his second save of the season and finished things up for the Gaels, moving them to 11–6 overall.
“It is crucial that we are clicking at the right time,” said Sophomore Jack Murphy. “Everyone understands their role to this team and it brings an atmosphere where all of us are rooting for everyone to succeed.”
The Gaels will look to keep their bats and pitching rolling as they host the Pacific Tigers for two more games at Louis Guisto field in Moraga, CA. Pre-Season All-American, Ken Waldichuk will take the mound for the Gaels on Saturday as he looks to shut down the Tigers, followed by Freshman starter Tyler Thornton.
Waldichuk: 2–1, 3.23 ERA.
Thornton: 3–0, 2.95 ERA.
