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SAN ANTONIO — This one will be remembered for years to come. For
Matt McClain, it's a game he'll remember for a lifetime.
As
Rene Solis stood by his parents after Friday's doubleheader against Rogers State, he told them fellow ace McClain 'stole the show.'
McClain without a doubt had a game for the ages, tossing a complete, nine-inning no-hitter in a tremendous showing against Rogers State, striking out 12 in Rattler Baseball's first no-no since the 2007 season.
McClain's monumental game is just the program's second no-hitter in at least 12 years and is the first since Tommy Vrzal pitched a seven-inning no-hitter against Oklahoma Panhandle State on April 27, 2007.
The junior has cemented himself not only in St. Mary's Baseball history but can call himself one of the rare collegiate pitchers who holds a no-hitter to his name.
Game Two of Friday's doubleheader was a pitcher's duel as the Rattlers struggled to put up runs but of course, McClain would win the duel in stunning fashion as the Rattlers supported him with a run in the sixth and eighth inning for the 2-0 victory.
The Rattlers also won Game One of the doubleheader by a landslide, 12-4, under Solis (Sr., San Antonio).
Demonstrating a special bond between arms, it was Solis who led McClain's locker room celebration, in the form of a shaving cream pie to the face.
"We all want to see our teammates do well and for Matt to come through and accomplish something of this magnitude," said Solis of McClain's celebration, "we had to show how great he did by having some fun with him and treating him like a big leaguer.
"His performance was phenomenal. It was fun to watch and fun to be a part of."
As McClain's eyes followed his last batter's pop up into the glove of
Brooks Orton (Jr., Cedar City, Utah) to clinch his no-hitter, a mob ensued with McClain first going to his partner in the win, catcher
Keith Funk (RS-So., San Antonio) to embrace in a huge hug, symbolizing a chemistry and connection only a pitcher and catcher would understand.
The bench cleared and the Rattlers' bullpen charged in on McClain, capturing the gravity of what McClain had just accomplished. The mob ended with a final embrace with McClain and pitching coach
Chris Ermis.
"It is something I will remember for the rest of my life," said McClain of his not-so-common feat Friday. "I'm glad I have teammates I can celebrate with in the locker room. It's a dream come true."
On paper McClain's stats were riveting as he retired his first 18 batters, tossing seven innings without a single runner getting on base. The Hillcats (6-3) drew two walks in the seventh that spoiled McClain's shot at a perfect game, but it only ignited the mound further for McClain.
Back on the mound in the eighth, McClain's windup was fast and focused as he struck out three straight to end the inning. He certainly had a goal in mind.
The ninth inning came for McClain and he stepped on the hill dialed in; he struck out his first two batters before causing a fly out to end the game of his life.
"I started picking it up later in the game," said McClain after his historic appearance. "And my mind was just in the game. I was just trying to get zeros on the board and it all came through pretty well."
McClain's 12-strikeout no-hitter comes off another flashy week when in his last start on the mound last weekend against Metro State, the southpaw again struck out 12, going on to win the South Central Region Pitcher of the Week and Heartland Conference Pitcher of the Week.
McClain has now struck out an impressive 37 batters in 31 innings, with 24 coming in his last two appearances, improving his record to 3-1 with Friday's win.
It will be hard to wind down from McClain's spectacular game and it is a wonder when Rattler fans will see another no-hitter as McClain broke a seven-year spell.
McClain's no-hitter improved the Rattlers to 11-2 on the season and 2-0 in conference play.
The Rattlers complete the series with Rogers State at 1 p.m. Saturday at Dickson 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.
