Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 SAN ANTONIO — It was a rough day for the St. Mary's Rattlers as they dropped two straight games to the Dustdevils of Texas A&M International University on Friday, falling 4-3 and 4-1.
The Dustdevils took a quick lead in Game 1 after a solo home run off of starting pitcher
Rene Solis in the first inning, but Solis would settle in and throw five straight shutout innings afterward.
The Rattlers struggled to string hits together and the score remained 1-0 going into the seventh. St. Mary's gave up three runs in the seventh inning off of a single, a walk and a throwing error, but would battle back and score three of their own off of a massive, three-run home run by
Mario Maldonado.
However, the late-inning offensive surge would not be enough for the Rattlers as they lost Game 1, 4-3.
The Rattlers were lead offensively by Maldonado, who went 2 for 4 in the game, as well as by
Oscar Sepulveda, who went 1 for 2 with a triple in the sixth. The team had six hits in the game.
Matt McClain took the mound for the Rattlers in Game 2. McClain battled and held the Dustdevils at bay for the first two innings, but was unable to stop a third-inning surge which left the Rattlers in a 4-0 hole. McClain would throw six innings before handing the ball off to
Rick Villa, who provided two solid innings in relief. Villa yielded to
Greg Dobb in the ninth. Dobb would go on to only throw eight pitches to close out the Dustdevils' offensive hopes.
Unfortunately, the Rattlers were only able to muster a single run in the game.
Joe Hermsen led off the fifth with a single and was brought in by a double to left field by
Al Gonzalez.
St. Mary's once again had six hits in the contest. Maldonado again led the effort with two hits.
Nathan Humpal,
Scott Jones, Hermsen, and Gonzalez each had one hit apiece.
The Rattlers will conclude the series and the regular season Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. at Dickson Stadium.
Garrett McKenzie will take the mound for the finale, making his first start for the Rattlers.
