Two Six-Run Innings Lift Baseball To DH Sweep

4/9/2021 8:11:00 PM

LAWTON, Okla. – For the first time in 2021, the St. Mary's Baseball team scored over 10 runs in back-to-back games, winning both games of a doubleheader at Cameron on Friday, 12-6 and 14-3.

The Rattlers (16-14, 13-13 Lone Star Conference) exploded for 23 hits over the twinbill and the pitching staff did a good job of limiting the Aggies (4-20, 4-16 Lone Star). The two teams will conclude the three-game series on Saturday with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.

All nine spots in the batting order scored at least once in game one and all nine tallied at least one hit in the night cap as it was a total team effort for the Rattlers.

GAME ONE RECAP
A crooked first inning helped lift the Rattlers to the 12-6 victory in the series opener. Seven different players combined for the team's eight hits, as only sophomore Brandon Broughton (Corpus Christi, Texas) had a multi-hit contest (2-for-5) and all nine spots in the batting order scored at least once. Broughton also paced the team with three RBIs.
StMU was aided by five Cameron errors, scoring 12 runs on eight hits. The Rattlers played clean defensively, allowing six runs on 13 hits.

Senior Dylan Bells (Regina, Saskatchewan) remained unbeaten on the season, moving to 5-0 after throwing 6.2 innings. He allowed six runs on 10 hits, walking two and fanning six. Senior Johnny Panatex (Pflugerville, Texas) earned his third save of the season, pitching the final 2.1 frames. Panatex walked one and struck out four, while only surrendering three hits.

Panatex totaled the sixth save of his St. Mary's career, moving him into sole possession of seventh place in the school's records.

Cameron used nine different hurlers and starter Julian Macias (0-2) took the loss, lasting 2/3 of an inning. He allowed six runs on three hits with two walks and a strikeout.
With one out in the first, junior Jake Mares (Fort Worth, Texas) singled to left field, moved to second on a walk by senior Fernando Zubia (El Paso, Texas) and scampered to third on a throwing error by the catcher. With two outs, senior Mitchell Caskey (Houston, Texas) walked to load the bases and sophomore Mauro Bustamante (Helotes, Texas) singled to left to plate two. Senior Johnny Hernandez (El Paso) was hit by a pitch and freshman Devin Goins (San Antonio) followed with a single to center to double the lead. Sophomore Jake Sims (San Antonio) was plunked, knocking the Aggies starter out of the game. Senior Derek Mueller (Carrolton, Texas) beat out an infield hit to shortstop to give the Gold & Blue a 6-0 advantage.

Cameron scored two runs in the bottom of the first and three in the second to close within one, 6-5, but the Rattlers answered with one in the third. Bustamante was hit to kick things off in the frame, Hernandez singled to left but was erased on a fielder's choice off the bat of Goins to put runners on the corners. Sims laid down a great bunt to score Bustamante for the 7-5 tally.

The Aggies answered with one in the seventh to make the score 7-6, however the Rattlers immediately answered.

Goins led off the eighth reaching first on an error and freshman CJ Ricondo (San Antonio) pinch ran for him. He moved to second on a groundout by Sims and Mueller was tagged to put two runners on. Mares walked to load the bases and with two outs Broughton singled to plate a pair. Caskey singled to center to increase the lead to four, 10-6.
Hernandez walked to begin the ninth and junior Brian Juarez (Corpus Christi), pinch hitting, reached on an error. Sims also reached via an error and Hernandez scored. Juarez and Sims moved up 90 feet on a passed ball and Mares walked to load the bases for the second-straight inning. After a pitching change, Zubia hit into a fielder's choice as the first baseman threw home for the force out. Broughton walked for the second run of the inning and the 12-6 final score.

GAME TWO RECAP
The Rattlers scored in every inning from the second through the sixth, defeating the Aggies 14-3 in seven innings. The club scored its 14 runs on 15 hits and was aided by three Cameron miscues.

Zubia, Bustamante and Hernandez each had three hits and Bustamante led the way with three RBI. Both Broughton and Juarez walked twice.

Senior Zach De La Garza (San Antonio) pitched his second complete game of the year, giving up three runs on nine hits, walking three and striking out seven. He threw 96 pitches and 64 were for strikes to improve to 4-2 in 2021. It is the 24^th win of De La Garza's career, tying him for 10^th on the St. Mary's record list.

St. Mary's broke onto the scoreboard first in game two, plating two in the second with two outs. Bustamante singled to left and scampered to second on a passed ball. Hernandez singled to second base, allowing Bustamante to score. Juarez walked and Sims singled to center for the second run of the contest.

Cameron got one of the runs back in the bottom half of the inning, but the Rattlers immediately answered. With one out, Zubia doubled to left. With two outs, Caskey singled to center to score Zubia for the 3-1 score.

Juarez walked to begin the fourth, moved to second on a groundout by Sims and scored on a single to right by Mares with two outs. Mares stole second and scored on a single to right field by Zubia. Broughton and Caskey both walked to load the bases and knock out the starting hurler for Cameron. Bustamante made them pay with a triple to right to clear the bags and he hustled home on a passed ball for the 9-1 advantage.

With one out in the fifth, Mueller walked, promptly stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch. Mares walked and also swiped second. A throwing error by the catcher allowed both to advance 90 feet. Zubia singled to left to plate Mares. Broughton walked and with two outs, Bustamante struck out but a catcher error allowed him to reach first and Zubia to score. Hernandez kept the inning going with a single to short and he moved up on a throwing error, scoring Broughton and the scoreboard read 13-1.

Juarez opened the sixth with a double to right field. Mueller singled to center to put runners on the corners and Mares hit into a fielder's choice that erased Mueller, but Juarez scored to make the score 14-1.

Cameron plated two in the bottom of the seventh, but were unable to prevent the 10-run rule from happening as the Rattlers won 14-3.