First Pitch
• The Rattlers face their first road test of the 2023 campaign, traveling to UT Tyler for a four-game series beginning on Friday afternoon. The Patriots are 2-2 after splitting a series at Oklahoma Christian last week.
• Senior Brandon Broughton started the season with a bang, hitting two home runs in the opener against UT Permian Basin. It was the first multi-home run game of his StMU career.
• Jake Mares stole two bases last week, needing four to tie the record of the record of 73 by Brandon Bippert (1998-2001).
• Clay Bradford, Brandon Broughton, Jake Elizondo and Jake Mares all reached base safely in all four games last week and Bradford recorded at least one hit in all four.
• The pitching staff walked nine and struck out 19, for a 2.1 K:BB ratio. In two of the four games the hurlers combined to strikeout seven or more with John Curtis leading the charge with 6 K's.
• St. Mary's was picked to finish eighth in the Lone Star Conference preseason poll with 203 points. The Falcons were selected 13th by the league's coaches, SIDs and media.
• Senior Jake Mares was named to the preseason NCBWA All-South Central Region team. A season ago, Mares earned All-Region honors by all three associations.
• A season ago, the Rattlers ranked first in the Lone Star Conference and fifth in the nation in double plays per game at 0.96. The 50 turned also ranked sixth in the country and the team returns the entire starting infield from 2022. The 50 double plays was two shy of the school's single-season mark of 52 held by the 2013 squad.
• St. Mary's returns a total of 21 letterwinners return off the 2022 team, including All-Region selections Jake Mares and Clay Bradford as well as LSC All-Defensive team pick Ryan McGowen.
