Baseball Keeps Fans On Edges of Seats in DH Split

SAN ANTONIO – In a pair of thrilling games, the St. Mary's Baseball team split with fourth-ranked West Texas A&M on Saturday, dropping game one, 7-6 and winning game two 10-3.
 
The Rattlers (11-18, 9-18 Lone Star Conference) trailed 7-2 in game one, but plated one in the fifth and three in the seventh to cut it to one run and carried the momentum into game two, scoring seven runs in the fourth to break the game open and earn the split over the Buffs (24-5, 22-5 Lone Star).
 
Junior Clay Bradford (Atoscocita, Texas) was 5-for-7 on the day with five runs scored and two RBIs, while sophomore Jacob Elizondo (San Antonio) made some fantastic defensive plays in each game to keep the Rattlers hopes alive. He was also 3-for-3 with three RBIs in the nightcap.
 
The two teams conclude the four-game series at 1 p.m. on Sunday inside Dickson Stadium.
 
GAME ONE RECAP
The Rattlers struck first in the opener, scoring two runs on two hits in the bottom of the first. With one out, Bradford walked, junior Rudy Solis (El Paso, Texas) singled up the middle and junior Brandon Broughton (Corpus Christi, Texas) doubled to left to plate Bradford. Sophomore Devin Goins (San Antonio) fouled out to left, but the ball was deep enough to score Solis on the sacrifice fly. 
 
The Buffs scored three in the third and four in the fourth to take a 7-2 lead.
 
In the fifth with one out, Bradford doubled to deep right center. Bradford started to steal third and Solis singled down the right field line to score Bradford and the 7-3 tally.
 
Senior Shawn Tober (San Antonio) doubled down the left field line, senior Jake Mares (Fort Worth, Texas) drew a walk and Bradford singled through the right side to load the bases. Solis walked and Broughton hit into a fielder's choice. Goins singled to shallow center for the fifth run and Elizondo worked a walk to plate freshman Jorge Cuevas (El Paso), who had pinch run for Solis, but the Rattlers comeback was shot down with a fielder's choice to the shortstop who threw to third for the 7-6 final.
 
Senior Seven Medrano (El Paso) pitched the entire game for the Rattlers, moving to 2-3 on the season. He allowed seven runs on 11 hits, walking three and striking out five with 109 pitches through the seven innings.
 
GAME TWO RECAP
The Rattlers scored 10 runs on 11 hits in the second game of the twin bill and held the potent WT offense to three runs on four hits.
 
Junior Josh Buske (San Antonio) was on the hill for six innings, surrendering three runs on four hits with two walks and three strikeouts to improve to 4-0 on the year. Senior Anthony Chavez (El Paso) pitched a scoreless seventh, walking one and thanking Elizondo for making a diving catch and flip to Mares who bulleted a throw to Broughton at first for the double play to end the Buffs threat.
 
Bradford and Elizondo accounted for six of the team's 11 hits in the nightcap, while senior Brian Juarez (Corpus Christi) added two more and Tober had a pair of RBIs from the ninth-spot in the order.
 
With two outs in the second, senior Ryan McGowen (San Antonio) worked a walk after trailing in the count, 0-2, and Elizondo doubled to left center after fouling off several pitches for the 1-0 lead. Juarez followed with a single to left and Elizondo hustled home to have the scoreboard read 2-0.
 
The Buffs tied the game with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth, but the Rattlers answered in a big way in their half. McGowen singled to third on a bang-bang play at first and both Elizondo and Juarez bunted for singles to load the bases. Tober singled through the right side to score a pair. Mares was hit by a pitch as he squared up to bunt the first pitch to reload the bags. A long single over the right fielder's head off the bat of Bradford scored two more and knocked A.G. Ayala out of the game. With one out, Broughton walked and everyone moved up 90 feet on a groundout by Goins. McGowen was hit in the middle of the back and Elizondo singled up the middle to score two, but McGowen was thrown out at home to end the rally as the Rattlers scored seven runs for the 9-2 advantage.
 
After WT got one back in the top of the sixth, the bats for the Rattlers got back to work. Bradford singled through the right side, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on a single through the right side by Broughton for the 10-3 tally.
 
The Rattler defense turned two double plays in the game and the pitchers held WT to 2-for-6 with runners in scoring position and just 2-for-11 with runners on base.