Box Score
SAN ANTONIO — As a chill began to descend on Dickson Stadium that dropped the temperature 20 degrees by the ninth inning from when Rattler Baseball's series finale against William Jewel College started, the Rattlers heated up at the plate that had them record a charging comeback to win the series with a walk-off in the 10
th inning.
No. 5 Rattler Baseball recorded a 4-3 walk-off Sunday after a challenging game with the Cardinals that had St. Mary's scoreless until the seventh inning.
But all that was erased in the bottom of the ninth as the Rattlers powered through in what the Cardinals hoped would be their last at-bat, scoring two runs to tie it up 3-3.
After a sac bunt that moved
Brooks Orton (Jr., Cedar City, Utah) to third after his leadoff double in the bottom of the 10
th,
Joe Hermsen (Jr., Overland Park, Kan.) smacked the big one, recording a clutch single to bring in Orton for the win.
Hermsen, currently leading the Rattlers with a .422 average, went 3-5 at the plate with the game-winning RBI.
"This is probably my first walk-off hit ever in my life," said Hermsen of his game-winner that cleared the Rattlers' bench in celebration. "Brooks did a good job running out that fly and getting to second and Oscar (Sepulveda) did the job getting him over (to third) so I'll I had to do was put the ball on the bat and he would score."
The walk-off seemed routine for the Rattlers, as it is their third on the season and second victory won in extras, improving their record to 14-4 on the season.
On the hill, starting pitcher
Nathan Humpal (Sr., Corpus Christi, Texas) had a quality start, tossing 8 1/3 innings with three strikeouts and two earned runs.
Rick Villa (RS-Sr., San Antonio) pitched 1/3 inning of relief before
Adrian Garcia (RS-Sr., El Paso, Texas) strode in from center to close out the game for the second time in the series.
Picking up a save in Game Two, Garcia added a win Sunday, improving to 3-0 on the season after pitching 1 1/3 innings against the Cardinals, retiring four of his five batters faced.
"It's something I really like," said Garcia of his dual ability to contribute to the Rattlers. "It's something I worked out with the coaches and so far it's worked really well. I love it. I mean yeah, you end the game and your legs hurt, your arms hurt but it's a good experience, I like helping my team."
Garcia was also a main component at the plate, going 2-3 and recording two of the Rattlers' three RBI on the day.
The 11-hit victory was the rubber game for the Rattlers as they took the series over the Cardinals 2-1 in their fourth series win on the season.
"It was a big momentum change today," said Hermsen of the series win. "Now we can go back into conference play next weekend with momentum."
The Rattlers recorded a stout five doubles in the win and four sacrifice hits with
Mario Maldonado (Jr., Laredo, Texas) recording a multiple-hit game along with Garcia and Hermsen, smacking two hits.
St. Mary's will play its second series of Heartland Conference play against McMurry starting with a doubleheader at 3 p.m. Friday in Abilene, Texas.
