Baseball Wins in Lopsided Fashion on Saturday

FORT SMITH, Ark. – Sophomore second baseman Jacob Elizondo was a home run shy of the cycle on Saturday at UAFS as the St. Mary's Baseball Team run-ruled the Lions, 13-3 in eight innings.
 
The Rattlers amassed 13 runs on 16 hits – and stranded another 13 runners on base – in the lopsided victory. Eight of the nine spots in the lineup reached base at least once and Elizondo (San Antonio), senior Jake Mares (Fort Worth, Texas), junior Brandon Broughton (Corpus Christi, Texas) and sophomore Trey Guajardo (San Juan, Texas) all had three hits.
 
Elizondo and Broughton both had three RBIs to lead the team, while Mares and Elizondo both scored three runs each. Senior Ryan McGowen (San Antonio) was 0-for-2, but reached base three times, walking twice and getting hit by a pitch once. The Rattlers also stole four bases in the win.
 
Junior Caden Floyd (Corpus Christi) gave up only one run in six innings to improve to 3-0 on the season. He allowed nine hits, walked six and struck out a career-high six batters. Senior Anthony Chavez (El Paso, Texas) was on the hill the final two innings, surrendering two runs on one hit with three strikeouts.
 
Mares got things going with a single past his own defensive position and moved to second on a single to left by Elizondo. Junior Clay Bradford (Atoscocita, Texas) reached on a fielder's choice, putting runners on the corners and a single to centerfield by Broughton scored the first run of the game. 
 
After a six-pitch walk was issued to Mares to begin the third, Elizondo tripled to right center to double the score. Bradford singled to right center to bring home Elizondo and Broughton followed with a single through the right side. A groundout to the third baseman by junior Rudy Solis (El Paso) plated Bradford. With two outs, McGowen walked and freshman Tyler Pauly (Fisher, Texas) reached on a fielding error by the second baseman, scoring Broughton for the 5-0 advantage.
 
In the fourth with one out, Elizondo doubled to right center and scampered to third on a single to second by Bradford. After a pitching change, Broughton hit a fielder's choice to the shortstop, allowing Elizondo to score and have the scoreboard read 6-0.
 
McGowen was plunked to lead off the fifth and with one out he moved to third on a single to right by Guajardo. Guajardo hustled to second on a wild pitch and McGowen scored on a ground out by Mares. The Lions scored one in the sixth to have the scoreboard read 7-1.
 
In the seventh, Guajardo kicked things off with a single through the right side. Mares took one back up the box to put runners on the corners and he promptly stole second base. Elizondo hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield. With two outs, Broughton was hit by a pitch, Solis walked and Goins reached on a wild pitch after striking out. A throwing error by the second baseman allowed two runs to score. McGowen walked and a passed ball allowed Solis to scurry home for the fourth run of the frame and the 11-1 lead.
 
UAFS added two runs on one hit with a hit by pitch and a pair of wild pitches, making the score 11-3.
 
Guajardo singled to right, Mares singled up the middle and Elizondo reached on a fielder's choice that erased Mares but plated Guajardo. Elizondo moved to second on a groundout by Bradford and scored on a single to left off the bat of Broughton for the lucky 13th run. 
 
The two teams conclude the regular season on Sunday with a game at 1 p.m. If the Rattlers should win, they would need Cameron to defeat Texas A&M International to advance to the Lone Star Conference Championship. A loss or an Aggie win would eliminate the Rattlers from postseason contention.