Box Score
ABILENE, Texas — St. Mary's Baseball took a dramatic series finale over McMurry Friday to sweep the series with a 7-5 win, capitalizing at all the right moments.
With the series sweep over the War Hawks, the Rattlers continue to hold the No. 1 spot in the Heartland Conference, improving to 17-4 on the season and 5-1 in league play.
While the War Hawks (5-12, 3-5 in conference) outhit the Rattlers 13-9, it was the Snakes who had the key connections, powered by
Mario Maldonado who went an impressive 4-4 with a solo homer, two RBI and two runs scored.
A statement, three-run inning in the Rattlers' last at-bat sealed the victory as it silenced a two-run War Hawk homer in the bottom of the ninth, escaping a walk-off.
Ranked No. 3 in the nation, the Rattlers started their seven-run rally in the first when
Al Gonzalez (RS-So., Pasedena, Texas) recorded an RBI-single followed by Maldonado's (Jr., Laredo, Texas) big fly in the second in his third homer on the season.
The War Hawks tied it 1-1 in the bottom of the first but would trail for the remainder of the game as the Rattlers put up two more runs in the fourth and closed out the game with thrilling final at-bat.
Both Gonzalez and Maldonado added their second RBIs on the day in the ninth while starting pitcher
Nathan Humpal (Sr., Corpus Christi, Texas) helped his cause on the mound, smacking an RBI-double in the three-run inning.
The Rattlers also stunned in base running, recording four stolen bases with
Brooks Orton (Jr., Cedar City, Utah) swiping three to tie for No. 1 in the program's single-game stolen bases record.
On the hill, Humpal tossed 8 1/3 innings for five earned runs and two strikeouts to improve to 2-1 on the season.
Adrian Garcia (RS-Sr., El Paso, Texas) took his game once again from centerfield to the mound, tossing 2/3 innings to record his second save on the season after retiring both of his batters faced.
The Rattlers will take a break from league play to face Texas A&M Kingsville at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Dickson Stadium.
