Box Score
SAN ANTONIO — It was another narrow miss for the Rattlers, as they fell by two, 9-7, to regional contender Texas A&M-Kingsville on Tuesday.
The high-scoring contest saw blazed bats on both ends, with the Javalinas (7-1) recording 17 hits to the Rattlers' (5-3, 4-2 in conference) 12. The Rattlers' play picked up after losing a 2-0 lead that turned to a four-run deficit in the in the sixth inning, but not enough to pull off what would have been a stirring comeback.
With two away and the Rattlers having already scored once in the bottom of the ninth, leftfielder
Kyle Bumpas (Jr., El Paso, Texas) represented the winning run with runners on the corners. But a hard-hit liner up the middle couldn't get through the middle of the infield, as the Javelinas' shortstop made a diving snag to end the game.
TAMUK scored in five consecutive innings, including a four-run sixth to overcome the Rattlers' one-time lead.
The Javelinas saw an uncharacteristic six-Rattler pitching rotation for the ballgame.
Derek Moczygemba (Sr., Bulverde, Texas) had the start and threw five innings for the no-decision, as the Javelinas tied it up 2-2 in the fifth with
Rick Villa (RS-Jr., San Antonio) recording the loss.
“We just really haven't found the middle point in that yet,” said first baseman
Brandon Bates (Sr., Boerne, Texas) of balancing the Rattlers' bats and pitching over their current three-game losing streak. “It's either our pitching is a little off or our hitting is a little off, but I think we'll find it soon enough. I think these losses are going to be an eye-opener for us. Hopefully we'll learn from it and do better next game.”
Bates went 2 for 3 at the plate Tuesday, drawing two walks and scoring two runs.
Mario Maldonado (So., Laredo, Texas) and designated hitter
Al Gonzalez (RS-Fr., Pasadena, Texas) each smacked three hits, with Gonzalez recording two RBIs and his first career double.
Ivan Sigala (Sr., El Paso, Texas) also had a multiple-hit day with two hits for two RBIs, while
Derek Hamilton (Jr., Lake Jackson, Texas) and
Jan Paul Reguero (RS-Fr., Aquadilla, Mexico) rounded out the 12-hit day with one hit apiece.
The Rattlers must pick up quick as they are back to conference play this weekend for their first road series on the season.
“Hopefully this will wake us up and we can get better and grow from here,” Bates said. “We still have a lot of growing and learning to do as a team as far as team chemistry, but we can only improve.”
St. Mary's starts its three-game series against the University of Texas-Permian Basin Friday in Odessa, Texas at 12 p.m.
St. Mary's University, as a Catholic Marianist University, fosters the formation of people in faith and educates leaders for the common good through community service, integrated liberal arts and professional education, and academic excellence. The University has six athletic national titles: men's basketball (1989–NAIA), baseball (2001–NCAA Div. II), softball (1986–NAIA and 2002–NCAA Div. II) and an individual national champion in men's golf (2006–NCAA Div. II) and a national academic championship in men's golf (2009–NCAA Div. II). St. Mary's also had more than 40 percent of its athletes named to conference, regional and/or national honor rolls this past year. St. Mary's student–athletes graduation rate is 65 percent, higher than the NCAA Division II average of 55 percent. To learn more about St. Mary's, visit www.rattlerathletics.com.
