Box Score
LUBBOCK, Texas — No. 9 St. Mary's Baseball prevented being swept by No. 20 Lubbock Christian, outlasting the Chaparrals 9-7 on Saturday.
The Rattlers scored three runs in the top of the ninth to take a 9-4 lead into the bottom of the frame, and held on despite giving up three runs in the bottom of the frame after closer
Adrian Garcia got a game-ending strikeout with the bases loaded and the winning run at first base.
Mario Maldonado scattered four hits and two runs over seven innings to pick up the win, improving to 2-1 on the season for the Rattlers (23-10, 10-5 Heartland Conference). Lubbock Christian dropped to 23-9 on the season.
With the victory, St. Mary's remains tied for first place with St. Edward's in the race for the Heartland Conference championship. Lubbock Christian leads the conference and Oklahoma Christian boasts the same record as StMU and SEU, but both LCU and OC are provisional members and thus ineligible for the league crown.
Drake Roberts' bat heated back up to lead the Rattlers at the plate, going 3 for 5 with two runs scored. Maldonado, who went back to second base after being relieved on the mound, helped his cause with two RBIs and a run scored on one hit.
Al Gonzalez was 2 for 3 with three RBIs.
Adrian Garcia also had a two-hit day, going 2 for 3 with an RBI.
St. Mary's led 6-0 early, fueled in large part by a three-run fifth inning.
The Rattlers will be back in action Tuesday, when they travel to Kingsville, Texas to take on Texas A&M-Kingsville at 6 p.m.
