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Scoreboard

Mares_Jake_20190319BB_vs_ASU_14
Antonio Morano Photography
4
Oklahoma Christian OC 27-18, 9-9 HC
6
Winner St. Mary's STMU 29-18, 9-9 HC
Oklahoma Christian OC
27-18, 9-9 HC
4
Final
6
St. Mary's STMU
29-18, 9-9 HC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Oklahoma Christian OC 0 1 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 4 7 0
St. Mary's STMU 0 0 2 0 0 4 0 0 X 6 8 1

W: Sepulveda, Oscar (3-3) L: Zachary Pape (5-4)

Game Recap: Baseball | | RattlerAthletics.com

Baseball completes sweep over Eagles

By Heather Kennedy | St. Mary's Athletics Communications

SAN ANTONIO – It was a total team effort as the St. Mary's baseball team pulled off the series sweep over visiting Oklahoma Christian on Senior Day, winning 6-4 on Saturday afternoon.

Seven of the nine spots in the batting order recorded at least one hit and junior Derek Mueller (Carrolton, Texas) notched a pair, going 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI. Freshman Jake Mares (Fort Worth, Texas) also tallied two RBIs in the win, both coming in the crucial four-run sixth inning.

Sophomore Jacob Koehler (New Braunfels, Texas) started on the hill for the Rattlers (29-18, 9-9 Heartland Conference) in a no decision. He lasted 2 1/3 innings after giving up three runs on five hits, walking one and striking out four. Senior Oscar Sepulveda (San Antonio), in his final appearance at Dickson Stadium, evened his season record at 3-3 after pitching the final 6 2/3 innings where he allowed just one run on two hits with two walks and six strikeouts. The six K's are tied for his second-highest total in 2019 and are one off his season high of seven from his first appearance on Feb. 3 against Tarleton State.

The Rattlers will conclude their regular season next Friday and Saturday at Lubbock Christian – the Heartland Conference leaders in the standings. The teams will play a doubleheader on Friday beginning at 3 p.m. and finish the regular season with a single game at 1 p.m. on Saturday. The top four teams in the league advance to the final Heartland Tournament, which will be in Cleburne, Texas beginning May 9.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Oklahoma Christian jumped out to the early 3-0 lead after scoring one run in the second and two runs in the top of the third.

The Rattlers answered with two runs in the bottom half of the third. With one out, Mueller singled between the shortstop and third baseman and scored on a triple down the right field line off the bat of freshman Ryan McGowen (San Antonio). Junior Andrew Perez (El Paso, Texas) singled to right center to bring home McGowen so the scoreboard read 3-2.

The score remained 3-2 until the bottom of the sixth inning when with one out, junior Patrick Fennell (El Paso) singled past the shortstop. Senior Mario Vela (Mission, Texas) hit one to the same spot to put runners at first and second and the Eagles went to the bullpen. Senior Colton Parrish (La Vernia, Texas) singled to right field to load the bases and Mares singled in the 5-6 hole to score a pair of runs to give the Rattlers their first lead of the day, 4-3. Mueller singled down the left field line and the Eagles again dug into their pen after Parrish scored on the play. A double steal by the Rattlers put runners on second and third and McGowen walked to load up the bags again. With two outs, junior Johnny Hernandez (El Paso) was hit on the first pitch he saw for the sixth run of the game.

In the top of the seventh, Hunter Markwardt hit an inside the park home run for the Eagles to close within two, 6-4, but that marked the end of the scoring for either team.

INDIVIDUAL PLAYER NOTES
  • Andrew Perez has stretched his reached base safely streak to 26 straight games. It is the longest streak of the season for any Rattler and more than twice as long as any other current streak on the team. Mario Vela has the next longest current active streak at 10 straight games.
  • Mario Vela has also hit in 10straight games, his second-longest streak of the season behind his 11-game hitting streak from earlier this year.
  • Jake Mares was 1-for-1 with the bases loaded today, getting his first hit of the year in that situation. The freshman was 0-for-6 coming into the game. The Rattlers are hitting .319 as a team with the bases loaded this season.
  • Oscar Sepulveda recorded six strikeouts in the game, which is tied for his second-highest total of the season and is one off his season high of seven from his first appearance on Feb. 3 against Tarleton State.
  • Sepulveda also held the Eagles to 0-for-4 with runners on base and he never let a lead-off batter get on base, as they were 0-for-6 against him today.
TEAM NOTES
  • The Rattlers added two more steals to their season total, bringing it to 79 for the season. That total now ranks fifth all-time and the next swipe will tie the team for fourth with the 1989 club, which stole 80.
  • In the last six games, the team has lowered its ERA from 5.84 to 5.28, the lowest it has been since Feb. 9 after the Tarleton State series, when it was 5.16.
  • The three-game sweep over Oklahoma Christian put the two teams into a tie for fourth-place in the Heartland Conference standings, but the Rattlers now hold all tie-breakers over the Eagles. Lubbock Christian (14-4) sits in first, Rogers State (12-6) is second and UAFS (11-7) is third. St. Edward's is in sixth place with an 8-10 mark and Texas A&M International is in seventh at 7-11. OC and Rogers State face each other on the final weekend, while St. Edward's is at TAMIU and UAFS is at Newman.
SENIOR DAY SCRIPT
First, from Lubbock, Texas, right-handed pitcher Branson Hall! Prior to joining the Rattlers Branson spent his first two seasons at Frank Phillips Community College. Branson is graduating with a degree in exercise and sport science.  When asked about what advice he would give to the underclassmen, Branson said: "Do not take a day for granted, because you will never know when it's going to be your last. This game goes by quickly, so enjoy every minute of it."

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, LET'S HEAR IT ONE MORE TIME FOR BRANSON HALL!

Up next, from La Vernia, Texas, the catcher, Colton Parrish! Before joining St. Mary's this season, Colton played two seasons at Blinn Junior College and one at TCU. Colton chose to come to St. Mary's because he knew it would be the right place to further his academic and athletic career. When asked about what advice he would give to the underclassmen, Colton said: "To become a better man off the field, use the many lessons you will learn here at St. Mary's from the coaches, your teammates and the game we all love."

LET'S HEAR IT ONE MORE TIME FOR COLTON PARRISH!

Up next from Mission, Texas, shortstop and second baseman, Mario Vela! Mario came to St. Mary's from McLennan Community College. As a junior, he made an immediate impact for the Rattlers. Playing in every game, he was a standout in the field from the start. Mario is graduating with a degree in business.

LET'S HEAR IT ONE MORE TIME FOR MARIO VELA!

Next, from Evergreen, Colorado, catcher and right-handed pitcher, Dylan Schmoker! Dylan spent the beginning of his collegiate baseball career at Siskiyous Junior College. He will graduate with a degree in finance and risk management. Dylan's advice to the underclassmen is: "Make the most of your time here because it will be gone quicker than you think. Make life-long relationships and take advantage of the time spent with your brothers. Above all, live with a servant's heart and make people's lives better, you have that unique opportunity every day so don't waste it."

LET'S HEAR IT ONE MORE TIME FOR DYLAN SCHMOKER!

Up next, from San Antonio, right-handed pitcher, Oscar Sepulveda! Oscar has spent his entire college-career as a Rattler. He made an immediate impact on the team as a freshman, playing in 29 games. Oscar battled back from injury to come back to baseball this season, throwing a seven strikeout win during this year's opening weekend. He finished his undergraduate degree in 2017 and is now working on a degree in public administration. Oscar's advice to the underclassmen is: "Believe in your vision and do not settle. Do not let failure or setback keep you from achieving what you see to be success in your life."

LET'S HEAR IT ONE MORE TIME FOR OSCAR SEPULVEDA!

And last but not least, from San Antonio, first baseman Donnie Perez! Donnie made the Heartland Conference Honor Roll and started in 48 games in his freshman year. He found continued success in 2016 when he made the All-Heartland Conference First Team. In 2017, he earned All-Heartland Second team, All-South Central Region Second Team and All-Region First Tam Honors. Last season, Donnie led the team in doubles, home runs, double plays and putouts. He was a Heartland Hitter of the Week, earned All-Heartland First Team honors and became the Heartland Conference Player of the Year. In 2019, Donnie was one of 11 named to the Pre-Season All-Heartland Baseball team. Donnie's words of wisdom to the underclassmen are: "Enjoy your time here and give the game all of your effort. Be able to leave here and know you left everything you had on the field."

LET'S HEAR IT ONE MORE TIME FOR DONNIE PEREZ!

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF OUR GRADUATING SENIORS… AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AT ST. MARY'S!
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