Saint Mary’s Baseball Clinches Series with Dominant 12-0 Victory Over CSUN

MORAGA, Calif. – The Saint Mary’s baseball team delivered a commanding performance at Louis Guisto Field, shutting out CSUN 12-0 to secure the non-conference series 2-1. This victory marked not just a triumphant end to the series but also showcased the Gaels’ offensive prowess with a series total of ten home runs.

Power-Hitting Leads the Charge

The Gaels, now at a 3-3 season record, exhibited an explosive batting display, belting four home runs in the final game. Jacob Johnson set the tone early with a two-run homer in the first inning, marking his fifth of the season and continuing his impressive start. Not to be outdone, Makoa Sniffen followed up with two impressive home runs, including a three-run shot in the fifth inning. The rookie Brayden Gutierrez added a pinch-hit solo homer in the sixth, rounding out an exhilarating offensive performance.

Strong Pitching Performance

On the mound, senior transfer Jake Hilton was instrumental, throwing five shutout innings and allowing only three hits. Hilton’s efficiency was remarkable; he recorded one walk and struck out five batters while maintaining a steady rhythm throughout the game. Luis Martin Romero closed the game with two hitless innings, solidifying the run-rule victory over CSUN (4-3).

Game Highlights

The Gaels got off to a fast start in both their offense and pitching. Hilton struck out the first two batters of the game and faced minimal resistance throughout his five innings. In a thrilling offensive show, Saint Mary’s quickly built a 4-0 lead with their two-run homers in the first and second innings.

• First Inning: Jacob Johnson initiated the scoring with a two-run homer.
• Second Inning: Makoa Sniffen followed suit, crushing a 420-foot homer to left-center.
• Fifth Inning: Sniffen added a three-run blast, further extending the lead.
• Sixth Inning: Brayden Gutierrez, showcasing his talent, hit a solo home run for his first collegiate hit.

With 16 hits against CSUN’s three, the Gaels demonstrated their depth and capability at the plate. Sniffen and teammate Diego Castellanos each registered three hits, contributing to a season-high total of hits.

Noteworthy Statistics

• Jacob Johnson leads the WCC with his five home runs and ten RBIs.
• Makoa Sniffen’s impressive performance included a career high of three hits and five RBIs.
• The Gaels achieved a remarkable feat by hitting four home runs in a single game, a first since April 29 last season.

Upcoming Matchup

Looking ahead, Saint Mary’s baseball team will hit the road for their first away game of the 2026 season against Bakersfield on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Additional details, including live stream links and ticket information, can be found on the official Saint Mary’s Athletics website.

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