HOUSTON – The St. Mary's Baseball team came back from a 3-0 deficit to beat Arkansas-Fort Smith in the final game of the Arkansas Tech Winter Invitational at Minute Maid Park on Sunday afternoon 6-3.
The Lions (1-2) took a 3-0 lead in the top of the third inning, but the Rattlers (2-1) responded immediately with two in the bottom half of the frame. They knotted the score at 3-3 with a run in the sixth and a three-run home run over the left field wall by sophomore
Mauro Bustamante (Helotes, Texas) gave the Rattlers the victory.
Bustamante was one of four Rattlers with two hits on the day, as the Blue & Gold scored six runs on nine hits, while the Lions scored three on four hits. Both teams committed two errors.
Senior
Mason Minister (San Antonio) started on the hill and gave up three runs on four hits with three walks and five strikeouts in a no decision. Senior
Dylan Bells (Regina, Saskatchewan) threw the final four innings in scoreless fashion. He didn't allow a hit and fanned four to move to 1-0 on the young season.
Both
Ryan McGowen (San Antonio) and
Jake Mares (Fort Worth, Texas) at the top of the lineup reached base twice, while senior
Derek Mueller (Carrolton, Texas) also had two base knocks and a walk.
The Rattlers now turn their attention to Lone Star Conference action, traveling to Oklahoma City for a three-game series at Oklahoma Christian beginning Thursday at 1 p.m.
INDIVIDUAL PLAYER & TEAM NOTES
- Sophomore Mauro Bustamante hit his first career home run, and is hitting .500 (6-for-12) on the season. He has also scored a team-high tying four runs.
- Ryan McGowen became the third different Rattler with a stolen base in 2021, swiping second in the bottom of the first inning. McGowen is now 21-for-28 in his career and third on the active list as Derek Mueller has 28 and Jake Mares has 27.
- The Rattlers improved to 27-19 all-time against UAFS win the win and they are now 4-1 at a neutral site.
- Both home runs for the Rattlers in 2021 have been three-run shots, as Mitchell Caskey hit one against Central Missouri on Saturday.
- Mason Minister and Dylan Bells struck out five and four Lions, respectively. Each of the four hurlers who have worked four innings or more this season has at least four strikeouts for the Rattlers.
