Box Score
SAN ANTONIO — Dickson Stadium felt a sting Saturday afternoon as Rattler Baseball had to swallow a blemished loss against Oklahoma Panhandle State, 12-7.
It was St. Mary's first loss to the Aggies since the 2010 season, rupturing a 20-game winning streak.
The Rattlers were able take the series 2-1 after winning the twinbill on Friday in not their prettiest of wins, and looked like they might muscle out another one in the series finale but OPSU quieted a comeback in a five-run final at-bat.
Peppering 11 hits, the Rattlers connected better than they have been in the last few games but were plagued by four untimely errors and faults in making key plays.
The Rattlers rotated five on the mound with
Adrian Garcia (RS-Sr., El Paso, Texas) making his second appearance in the series from centerfield, being charged with his first loss on the season as well as his first earned run, to drop to 4-1 on the season.
Both Garcia and
Scott Jones (Jr., College Station, Texas) went 3-4 at the plate with Garcia producing the Rattlers' most notable stats with two runs scored, one double and a team-high two RBI.
The Aggies (7-22, 2-12 in conference) put up four runs in the fourth to break open a scoreless game but were quickly shaken as the Rattlers scored five in the very next at-bat to lead 5-4.
St. Mary's created cushion, bumping its lead to 7-4 after tacking on a run in the sixth and seventh but the run in the seventh to tie it would be its final time across the plate.
Adding three runs in the seventh, the Aggies entered their final at-bat with a tie ball game at 7-7 only to blow the steam out of the Rattlers, punching in five more off three hits, a series of walks and two errors.
The No. 6 Rattlers remain the top team in the Heartland Conference, dropping to 21-8 on the season and 9-3 in league play after Saturday's loss.
The Rattlers will have to erase the jolting loss quickly as they have a speedy turn around, playing Houston-Victoria at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Dickson Stadium.
