SAN DIEGO — There were already plenty of story lines heading into Friday’s West Coast Conference series opener between Saint Mary’s and the preseason conference favorites San Diego, but Gaels junior right-hander Corbin Burnes figured he would add a couple more.
Burnes retired the first 22 batters he faced Friday in 7 1/3 perfect innings and recorded 26 outs before surrendering his first hit as he narrowly missed a no-hitter while losing a perfect game in the eighth inning en route to a 9-0, two-hit, complete game shutout victory at Fowler Park.
The Gaels (10-6, 1-0 WCC) were nearly perfect offensively as well in beating the defending WCC champion Toreros (11-9, 0-1 WCC).