Baseball Stumbles in UTT Opener

TYLER, Texas – The St. Mary's Baseball team hit three solo home runs, but couldn't overcome the hot bats of UT Tyler on Friday evening, falling 14-3 in the first game of a four-game series.
 
Junior Clay Bradford (Atascocita, Texas), junior Elias Koury (Lecheria, Anzoategui, Venezuela) and junior Easton Parrish (La Vernia, Texas) each hit a solo home run for the Rattlers (3-2).
 
Bradford extended his hitting streak to five games and was the only team with a multi-hit game, going 2-for-4 and Koury was on base three times after drawing two walks.
 
Senior Josh Buske (San Antonio) evened his record to 1-1 in the loss. He allowed six earned runs on nine hits, walking two and striking out four. Both freshman Brody Ticer (San Antonio) and junior Karlo Kalifa (Round Rock, Texas) worked in relief.
 
The Patriots are also 3-2 on the season and have won three straight. N. Niebur was credited with the win after surrendering three runs on six hits over five innings.
 
The two teams return to the diamond on Saturday for a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m.