SAN ANTONIO – The comeback for the St. Mary's Baseball team fell short against #15 West Texas A&M in the first game of the series on Friday evening, losing 6-3.
The Rattlers (5-2, 5-2 Lone Star Conference) trailed 6-1 and scored two in the eighth, but were unable to plate anymore against the Buffs (6-1, 6-1 Lone Star) to drop their second-straight game.
Sophomore
Jake Mares (Fort Worth, Texas) led the club at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a walk and an RBI. Senior
Keaton Milford (New Braunfels, Texas) drove in two of the team's three RBIs.
Senior left-handed pitcher
Zach De La Garza (San Antonio) took the loss on the hill after pitching five innings to move to 1-1 on the year. He allowed four runs (two earned) on four hits, walking four and striking out four. Sophomore
Connor Schmidt (Devine, Texas) pitched two innings, giving up two runs on three hits with no walks and four strikeouts, while senior
Johnny Panatex (Pflugerville, Texas) gave up only one hit with one walk and four K's in the final two innings.
Mathieu Gauthier pitched seven innings for the Buffs, allowing one run on four hits with one walk and eight strikeouts and Chandler Dean pitched the final two frames, giving up two runs on three hits with a pair of runs and strikeouts each.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Buffs jumped on the scoreboard first with an unearned run in the top of the first. A pair of walks and a throwing error led to the run with two outs.
West Texas A&M added two runs in the second on two hits and another Rattler error for the 3-0 advantage. In the third, DLG got out of a bases loaded jam with a big strikeout to keep the Buffs off the board.
With one out in the third, sophomore
Ryan McGowen (San Antonio) singled up the middle and senior
Derek Mueller (Carrolton, Texas) was hit by the first pitch he saw. Mares singled to right-center to plate McGowen for the first Rattlers run of the contest.
The Buffs immediately answered with one run in the top of the fourth and scored two more in the seventh for the 6-1 tally.
With two outs in the eighth, Mares doubled down the left field line, moved to third on a single by senior
Steven Wynn (San Antonio) and both scored on a double down the right field line by Milford to cut the deficit in half, 6-3.
TEAM & INDIVIDUAL PLAYERS NOTES
- Andrew Perez left the game in the top of the fourth inning after he and Derek Mueller collided on a play in right-centerfield. Mueller remained in the game.
- Jake Mares has recorded at least one hit in the first seven contests of the year, including four games with multi-hits. He hit his first extra-base hit with his third base knock of the game, taking a pitch down the left field line for a double.
- Connor Schmidt struck out a season-high four batters in his third appearance of the year.
- Derek Mueller has been on base in all seven games of 2020.
- Through the first seven games, Keaton Milford has 10 RBIs and five extra base hits to lead the team in both categories.
UP NEXT
The Rattlers and Buffs continue the series with a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. and concluding the four-game set on Sunday at 1 p.m.
Â
