SAN ANTONIO – What started as a pitcher's duel turned into an offensive explosion as the St. Mary's Baseball team again pulled off a thrilling late-inning come-from-behind victory, this time 6-5 over Texas A&M-Kingsville.
The Rattlers (12-10) won the series, 3-1 from the Javelinas (12-10) after trailing 5-2 in the middle of the eighth inning. The Gold & Blue scored four runs in the home half of the inning and turned the fourth double play of the day in the ninth to preserve the victory. In all three wins of the series, the team either was trailing or tied in late innings.
Senior
Andrew Perez (El Paso, Texas) came up big on offense, hitting his first home run of the season with one runner on base to kick things off in the four-run eighth. Perez was 2-for-3 on the day with two RBIs, a run scored and a walk. Fellow senior
Keaton Milford (New Braunfels, Texas) was also 2-for-3 with two RBIs and he was intentionally walked in the final frame.
Junior
Dylan Bells (Regina, Sasketchewan) had a no-hitter going into the top of the sixth he earned a no decision after giving up three runs on two hits with four walks and one strikeout. Junior
Jacob Koehler (New Braunfels) pitched the next 2.1 innings, giving up two runs on six hits with one walk and one strikeout. Senior
Johnny Panatex (Pflugerville, Texas) won his second game in as many days, allowing only one hit over the final 1.2 innings.
The Rattlers hitters were patient at the plate throughout the day, earning eight walks with just two strikeouts and all nine spots in the order reached base at least once.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Neither starting hurler gave up much through the first four-and-a-half innings as the Rattlers managed just two hits and Bells didn't give up any.
In the home half of the fifth, senior
Ragan Forrest (Lorena, Texas) led off with a single through the right side. Senior
Derek Mueller (Carrolton, Texas) laid down a fantastic bunt to the right of the mound and legged out the hit. The first baseman threw the play into the dirt, allowing Forrest to hustle to third. Sophomore
Ryan McGowen (San Antonio) was hit by the first pitch he saw to load the bases. With one out, Milford hit a long fly ball foul down the left field line for a sacrifice fly and move all three runners up 90 feet.
A bunt single by the leadoff hitter broke up the no hitter for Bells in the top of the sixth. A hit by pitch and another bunt single for the Javelinas tied the score at 1-1. A&M Kingsville broke the game open with three more runs on five total hits in the inning for the 4-1 advantage.
A leadoff double to left by McGowen to start the seventh knocked the Javelinas starting pitcher out of the game. With one out, Milford blasted a shot through the right side, which allowed McGowen to score to cut the deficit in half, 4-2.
Senior
Mitchell Caskey (Houston), pinch hitting for junior
Fernando Zubia (El Paso), drew a walk to open the bottom of the eighth and Perez knocked one over the left field wall to bring the Gold & Blue within one, 5-4. After the Javelinas went to the pen, Forrest walked and sophomore
Shawn Tober (San Antonio) came into pinch run for him. Mueller singled back up the middle and almost knocked the glove off the pitcher, but the ball got by into centerfield to put runners on first and second. A&M Kingsville again went to the bullpen and they chose to intentionally walk Milford to load the basees. Senior
Steven Wynn (San Antonio) also walked to tie the score at 5-5 and the Rattlers took the lead when senior
Johnny Hernandez (El Paso) was hit in the leg with a pitch for the 6-5 score.
In the top of the ninth, Panatex gave up a leadoff single, recorded a flyout to center and the defense turned a big double play behind him for the series victory.
TEAM & INDIVIDUAL PLAYER NOTES
- All nine spots in the batting order reached base at least once during the game for the Rattlers. The Rattlers walked eight times, tying for the second-highest total of the season.
- Andrew Perez hit his first home run of the season, bringing the team within one run in the eighth inning, 5-4. It is the third home run of his career.
- Ryan McGowen was 1-for-3 in the game, stretching his reached base safely streak to a team-best 19 straight.
- Catcher Ragan Forrest was also 1-for-3 on the day, extending his hitting streak to a team-best seven. The longest streak of the season belongs to Steven Wynn at 14 games, which was snapped on Friday evening.
- Johnny Panatex is now 2-0 on the season after winning his second game in as many days. The senior has pitched in 16 innings over eight games and also has a save. He has a team-best ERA of pitchers with multiple outings at 2.25.
UP NEXT
St. Mary's heads to San Angelo for a four-game series with top-ranked Angelo State. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. The teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 4 and will wrap things up with a nine-inning affair on Sunday at 1 p.m. The Rattlers return home the following week to host Texas A&M International starting at 6 p.m. on Friday.
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