OAKLAND, Calif. – The Saints were three outs away from a doubleheader sweep of Holy Names on Saturday, but fell in the opener 8-7 before rebounding with a 5-3 win.
In the opener of the twin bill, Saint Martin's (1-2) jumped out to two early leads, scoring two runs in each the first and third inning. However, each time the Saints put runs on the board, Holy Names found a response. The Hawks (5-2) answered back with two in the bottom of the first, then three in the bottom of the third inning.
After Holy Names added one more in the seventh inning, and stretching their lead to 6-4, Saint Martin's needed a late inning rally. SMU down to their final three outs found that rally.
It began with
Ryne Oshiro, who went 3-for-5, driving in two on a single to left field to tie the game. Then first baseman
Aaron Renaud put the Saints on top in the following at-bat, driving in
Micah McNicoll on a RBI single down the left field line.
However, the Saints could not hold the lead in the bottom of the ninth, issuing two lead-off walks, followed by a double to tie the game. After an intentional walk, the Hawks walked-off the game on a RBI single to center field.
Benjamin Wadowski got the start for the Saints, going only 2.1 innings, giving up five runs, three earned on one hit.
Derek Alumbaugh (0-1) went 5.2 innings in relief, allowing three runs on three hits with four punchouts.
Zach Alcos pitched to final two batters to end the game.
In the second matchup, Saint Martin's once again got runs on the board quick, scoring in the first inning on a Renaud RBI single. It would be the only run support for Saints' starter
Harrison Goebel until the sixth inning; however, Goebel did not need much.
The senior went 5.1 strong innings, recording five shutout innings to start. He allowed one run on three hits, with a season-high seven strikeouts.
In the sixth,
Jake Leonard added to the lead with a RBI single to left field, scoring Oshiro.
Holy Names finally managed to get to Goebel in the sixth inning, scoring one on a RBI single to right center. But the Saints managed to hang onto the lead heading into the seventh.
Saint Martin's added two critical insurance runs on Oshiro's two RBI single to field, stretching the lead to 5-1. Those runs came into play as Holy Names managed to score two in the bottom of the seventh, but the Saints closed out the game with the game-winning run at the plate with a pop up to second.
Justice Yamashita picked up the first save of the year for the Saints, closing out the final 1.2 innings, allowing two runs on two hits, and striking out two.
The Saints and Hawks conclude their four-game series with the final match coming Sunday at noon. Live stats of the game can be found on smusaints.com.
