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Box Score 2
SAN ANTONIO —
Matt McClain led the No. 7 Rattlers' vendetta over McMurry University Thursday, flashing a career showing that is sure to get the attention of many.
The sophomore McClain (San Antonio) consistently had the War Hawks swinging at air as he struck out 14, 13 of which went down hacking. McClain starred in the 10-0 run-rule victory with his one-hit, 14-strikeout showcase after the Rattlers fell in Game One 10-2.
McClain's career best also cracked the St. Mary's record books as his win Thursday put him tied for second for the most strikeouts in a single game since the 2000 season. Now at 98 strikeouts on the season, McClain was already leading the Heartland Conference and was tied No. 13 in the nation for most strikeouts before his lights-out performance Thursday night.
But McClain wasn't the only one producing heat in the Rattlers' revenge game.
Derek Moczygemba (Sr., Bulverde, Texas) pounded for half of the Rattlers' RBIs in Game 2 with his five coming from a two-shot homer as well as two doubles. Moczygemba went 4 for 5 at the plate that included his fourth home run on the season, a team high.
St. Mary's scored in all but three innings of the eight-inning game with Moczygemba being responsible for the two runs in both the fourth and sixth innings with his two-run shot in the fourth and two-RBI double in the sixth. Moczygemba earned his first RBI of the game with a shot up the middle in the first and also scored three runs in the run-rule.
The Rattlers' 15-hit Game 2 also saw sparks from
Al Gonzalez (RS-Fr., Pasdena, Texas) and
Adrian Garcia (RS-Jr., El Paso, Texas), who had three hits apiece, and
Brandon Bates (Sr., Boerne, Texas), who came away with two hits.
“The first game we just came out kind of dead,” said Moczygemba of Game One's loss. “It was taking us awhile to get going and we just need to come out stronger. The second game went fine, Matt pitched a great game and everyone hit the ball hard. We hit the ball hard in the first game, we just didn't hit the in clutch very well.”
McClain's one-hitter came in seven innings tossed to improve his win-loss record to 8-3 on the season. McClain struck out five batters in a row twice, including all outs from the second and fourth inning coming from K's.
Kyle Bumpas (Jr., El Paso, Texas) stepped up for one inning of relief and struck out one of his three batters faced.
Rene Solis (Jr., San Antonio) picked up the loss in Game One, falling to 7-1 on the season.
Keith Funk (RS-Fr., San Antonio) led the seven-hit day with three hits followed by Bates with two.
Ranked No. 3 in the most recent NCAA regional poll, the Rattlers' split Thursday has them boasting a 34-13 overall record.
St. Mary's will play its regular-season finale as it hosts Senior Day Friday at 1 p.m. at Wolff Stadium.
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.
