SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – Behind an eight run sixth inning, followed by a shutout pitching gem, Saint Martin's swept Holy Names 13-3, and 5-0, to pick up two road wins on Saturday.
 
Kim Nelson came through in the clutch, hitting a go-ahead three run home run to give Saint Martin's (3-4) a lead in the first game; followed by an eight run offensive explosion in the sixth led to the 13-3 victory over Holy Names (0-3). Nelson and Jessica O'Toole combined for the first shutout of the season, with a timely double by Nicki DeHan to propel SMU to the 5-0 win.
 
In the first game, the Saints jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first after lead-off singles by Lauren Diuco and Lindsay Miller set up Tessani Dixon for an RBI sac-fly. Holy Names quickly tied the game in the bottom of the first on an RBI groundout.
 
The Hawks took a 3-1 in the second inning after a throwing error by the Saints allowed two runners to move into scoring position, followed by an RBI groundout and sac fly.
 
Saint Martin's added one run in the third inning, on another RBI groundout by Dixon to cut the score to 3-2. The clutch hit of the game came in the top of the fifth, when Kim Nelson, with two outs, homered to left field, her first of the year, driving in three runs. The Saints took a 5-3 on Nelson's blast, scoring Emily Baca and L. Miller.
 
The Saints broke open the lead in the top of the sixth, scoring eight runs, on five hits, highlighted by a lead-off Nicki DeHan triple, and a Diuco double. Two singles by Sabrina Hicks, and one by Macy Uyehara, along with three walks, allowed Saint Martin's to take a commanding 13-3 lead. The Saints closed the door in the bottom half of the inning and sealed the 13-3 six inning victory.
 
Jessica O'Toole got the start, going the first two innings, before being relieved by Lauren Maley (1-3). Maley picked up the win after throwing four innings, allowing two hits, striking out three and walking one.
 
On the back half of the doubleheader, the Saints once again jumped out to the early lead, scoring a run in the top of the first on a wild pitch. Later in the inning, Nelson picked up her fourth RBI of the day on a groundout, scoring L. Miller.
 
In the third, L. Miller started off with a single, followed by a stolen base and hit by pitch for Dixon. Both runners advanced on a stolen base, setting up Nicki DeHan with runners on second and third with two outs. DeHan ripped a double to left field, scoring both runners and putting Saint Martin's up 4-0. The Saints added an insurance run in the sixth when Macy Uyehara tripled to left center, and scored on the play after a HNU error.
 
Jessica O'Toole got the start again in the second game, going two innings before Nelson (2-1) took over and finished off the final five innings to clinch the first shutout of the season for Saint Martin's. The Saints struck out four, while walking two, but only allowed four hits all game.

"Jess (O'Toole) started both games and Lauren (Maley) came in and did a good job in relief," said head coach Jim Peterson. "Kim (Nelson) came in the second game to help with the shutout. We had more baserunners today which helped us offensively. Several hitters had good days at the plate including Lauren Diuco, Nicki DeHan, and Kim had a big hit in the first game for us. We played solid defensively again and are beginning to get some timely hits."
 
The Saints travel to the campus of Academy of Art to play a doubleheader tomorrow, February 11. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. with live stats available for both games on smusaints.com.