Baseball Extends Winning Streak To Five With 32 Runs In DH

SAN ANTONIO – There was no shortage of offense for the St. Mary's Baseball team on Friday in a doubleheader sweep against Texas-Permian Basin as they scored 16 in each, winning 16-4 and 16-9.

With 23 hits in game one and 11 in game two, St. Mary's has now recorded double-digit hits in five straight contests. All nine hitters in the starting lineup posted at least one hit in each game of the twinbill and eight of the nine had at least one RBI in the opener.

The Rattlers (19-14, 16-13 Lone Star Conference) have now won five-straight games and eight of their last nine. Junior Jakes Mares (Fort Worth, Texas), senior Mitchell Caskey (Houston) and sophomore Brandon Broughton (Corpus Christi, Texas) each hit a home run on the day as the team has 13 in 2021.

The Rattlers and Falcons (11-17, 8-15 Lone Star) conclude the three-game series on Saturday with first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m.

GAME ONE RECAP
The Rattlers recorded a season-high 23 hits, scoring 16 runs as all nine batters recorded at least one hit and eight of the nine collected an RBI. Mares went 4-for-5 and missed only the triple for the cycle and freshman Devin Goins (San Antonio) had his first multi-hit game of his career after having a 3-for-4 day. Both Caskey and junior Ryan McGowen (San Antonio) tallied three RBI.

Five Rattlers either tied or recorded season-highs in hits (Mares, Goins, McGowen, Broughton-tied, senior Johnny Hernandez-tied {El Paso, Texas}), both Goins and McGowen tied their season-highs in RBI, while Broughton scored a season-best three runs and both sophomore Mauro Bustamante (Helotes, Texas) and Caskey tied their season-high with three runs scored.

Senior Dylan Bells (Regina, Saskatchewan) tied his career high fanning eight batters in five innings of work to improve to 6-0 on the year. He only allowed one hit through the first four innings and left after five innings with an 11-3 lead. He walked six and surrendered two earned runs. In a strange coincidence, Bells threw 121 pitches, tying his career-high, which he did a season ago against the Falcons.

Sophomore Josh Buske (San Antonio) allowed one run on two hits with two strikeouts in two innings of relief.

The Falcons scored first with an unearned run in the top of the first, but the Rattlers immediately answered with five runs in the bottom half of the frame. With one out, Mares legged out an infield single to short. Senior Fernando Zubia (El Paso) followed with a single over the first baseman's head and both advanced when Broughton drew a walk. Caskey hit a hot shot to third and Mares was erased on the fielder's choice. Bustamante singled back up the middle to plate two. Hernandez singled down the third base line, Goins singled through the right side and McGowen blasted a single past the second baseman for the fifth run.

Mares led off the second inning with his second career home run, clearing the left field fence to push the lead to five, 6-1.

Bells worked out of a bases loaded jam in the top of the third, striking out the final two hitters to keep the lead at five.

Hernandez singled to left and Goins singled through the right side to lead off the third. With one out, Mueller hit a sacrifice fly down the right field line and Mares singled up the middle for the 8-1 advantage.

Broughton singled to deep shortstop for an infield single and Caskey blasted a line drive over the left field fence as the scoreboard read 10-1. Bustamante singled through the left side and knocked UTPB starter Jake Rohde out of the game. With one out, McGowen singled to center to plate Bustamante and lift the lead to 11-1.

The Falcons added two to their total in the top of the fifth on a two-run home run by Garret Thornton to left field for the 11-3 tally.

Zubia walked to kick off the fifth and Broughton brought him home with a double to left center. Caskey doubled to deep in centerfield and Bustamante was plunked as UTPB again went to the bullpen. Hernandez hit a sacrifice fly to right-center. Goins tripled to right to score Bustamante and McGowen scored to plate Goins for the 16-3 advantage.

The Falcons plated one in the top of the sixth but it wasn't enough as the Rattlers won their second run-rule game in as many weeks.

GAME TWO RECAP
The hits kept coming for the Rattlers in game two, but they were a bit more patient at the plate, walking nine times in addition to the 11 hits. The Falcons pitching staff also struggled with control, throwing 11 wild pitches and hitting two.

Senior Zach De La Garza (San Antonio) improved to 6-2 on the season, allowing six runs on seven hits with two walks and five strikeouts in five innings. Freshman Justin Ortega (San Antonio) earned the first save of his career after giving up three runs on five hits with four strikeouts in four innings of work. It was Ortega's sixth appearance and he pitched 6.1 frames in his first five outings.

The Falcons again scored first in the nightcap as Jay Desoto hit a solo home run to right centerfield in the top of the first.

Broughton tied the score with a solo shot to the flag pole in right center to lead off the second. Caskey singled to left-center and Bustamante walked. Hernandez moved the pair up with a great sacrifice bunt that stopped halfway to the mound. Juarez hit a sacrifice fly to right center to give the Rattlers the 2-1 advantage. McGowen singled through the right side to plate Bustamante and Mueller singled to right then promptly stole second. Mares also singled to right to score Mueller and Zubia followed with a single that bounced close to the paint down the left field line. Zubia and Mueller pulled off the double steal to give the team a 6-1 edge.

DLG got his offense right back to work, allowing just one hit in the third. Bustamante walked and Hernandez was hit by a pitch with one out. Juarez singled past the third baseman to score Bustamante from second. McGowen walked to load the bases, as did both Mueller and Mares for the 10-1 lead.

UTPB scored four runs in the top of the fourth to cut the deficit in half, 10-5.

Broughton walked on four pitches not close to the zone and he hustled to second on a wild pitch. Broughton scored on a flare to left off the bat of Bustamante for the 11-5 tally.
The Falcons added a run in the top of the fifth as the spread was again five runs, 11-6.

In the bottom of the seventh, junior Mac Papini (San Antonio) singled to deep at shortstop and Hernandez singled down the left field line and the Falcons went to the bullpen. Juarez was hit in the helmet on the first pitch, but remained in the contest. With one out, Mueller hit a flare single to center and moved to second on a fielding error by the centerfielder. He stole third and scored on a groundout by Mares.

Texas-Permian Basin continued to hit the ball, scoring two more in the top of the eighth for the 15-8 score.

Broughton walked, moved to second on a passed ball, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a wild pitch that allowed Juarez to reach after striking out for the 16-8 lead.

The Falcons attempted a rally in the top of the ninth, but Ortega allowed only one run for the 16-9 victory.