Box Score
SAN ANTONIO —
Mario Maldonado would have been happy with seven innings.
Instead, the junior performed better than his expectations, nearly going the distance in his first career start as a pitcher Tuesday as the Rattlers downed No. 20 Angelo State in walk-off fashion at Dickson Stadium, 3-2.
The Rattlers charged
Adrian Garcia after he caused the winning run with one out in the bottom of the ninth when an errant throw off his grounder brought in
Al Gonzalez for the game-winner.
The big win, backed by quality pitching from Maldonado, improved the No. 5 Rattlers to 12-3 on the season and 10-2 at home in Dickson Stadium.
Maldonado, usually the Rattlers' All-Conference, starting second baseman, took to the hill for a suburb start against the nationally ranked Rams, tossing 8 1/3 innings that saw three strikeouts and zero walks in over 120 pitches.
"I got a call yesterday from coach (
Chris Ermis) and he told me I was going to start," said Maldonado, "and I said 'let's do it.' It was a good win against a good team. I was happy if I was going to go seven (innings). I wasn't expecting to go 8 1/3 but I felt good so I just kept it going."
Maldonado surpassed his previous total innings pitched as a Rattler with his stance Tuesday, giving up one earned run in a clash between the No. 1 regionally ranked Rattlers and No. 3 ranked Rams (10-3) before tossing it to centerfielder Garcia for the win.
In his second appearance on the mound, Garcia (RS-Sr., El Paso, Texas) picked up his second win after his one batter faced in the ninth hit into a double play to end their last attempt to score, gearing the Rattlers for their third walk off of the season.
"I'm glad Adrian came in relief," said Maldonado, a Laredo, Texas native. "He's the guy I wanted to come in after me."
Gonzalez (RS-So., Pasedena, Texas) connected for his first hit of the game in the clutch, gaining a leadoff single and advancing to second off a sac bunt from
Scott Jones (Jr., College Station, Texas).
Gonzalez would then round the horn for home after Garcia's hard-hit grounder and throwing error by the Rams in the Rattlers' second win over a nationally ranked squad.
The Rattlers scattered eight hits in the victory, led by
Joe Hermsen (Jr., Overland Park, Kan.) who smacked a two-RBI double in the fourth that kept the Snakes in the game.
Hermsen went 3-4 followed by
Omar Garcia (RS-Jr., El Paso, Texas),
Nathan Humpal (Sr., Corpus Christi, Texas),
Keith Funk (RS-So., San Antonio),
Drake Roberts (Jr., Brenham, Texas) and Gonzalez who all had one hit apiece.
St. Mary's will take their momentum gained Tuesday into their next series.
"After we lost the last game (against Rogers State), it just feels good to get back in the winning stride," said Garcia of the Rattlers' second win over a nationally ranked team. "And hopefully we stay there for awhile. It just feels great to win."
The Rattlers play a three-day, three-game series with William Jewel College with the series opener at 5 p.m. Friday at Dickson Stadium.
