SAN ANGELO, Texas – In his first start of the season and his longest outing in exactly a year, St. Mary's senior pitcher
Connor Schmidt helped slow down one of the most potent offenses in the Lone Star Conference – and let his offense put on a clinic – in a 10-3 win at third-ranked Angelo State on Friday afternoon.
Schmidt, a fifth-year senior from Devine, Texas had only thrown 8.1 innings over seven outings entering the day, but threw a gem, allowing only one earned run on three hits with five walks and five strikeouts in six innings.
His last outing that lasted that long was at St. Edward's on March 18, 2022, a 5-3 victory for the Rattlers.
Junior
Andrew Girod (San Antonio) picked up his third save in as many appearances, facing only one over the minimum in the final three innings. He struck out three and walked one.
All nine Rattlers (11-11, 10-11 Lone Star Conference) posted at least one hit and both seniors
Clay Bradford (Atascocita, Texas) and
Brandon Broughton (Corpus Christi, Texas) collected two RBI as the team scored its 10 runs on 12 hits.
The win snaps a 15-game losing streak to the Rams (23-4, 21-4 Lone Star) – the longest active losing streak to any team for StMU.
Aaron Munson took his first loss of the season on the hill for ASU. The Rattlers scored six runs off seven hits in 3.1 innings as he moves to 4-1.
The Rams took advantage of an error in the first inning to score a run for an early 1-0 lead. The Rattlers tied the score in the third. With one out, senior
Jake Mares (Fort Worth, Texas) singled to center and was sacrificed to second by freshman
Jacob King (San Antonio). A triple to deep centerfield by Bradford tied the score.
In the fourth inning, the Gold & Blue blew the game open with eight runs on six hits. The eight runs are the most in a game since the team scored nine in the fourth frame at UAFS on April 29, 2022.
Easton Parrish (La Vernia, Texas) led off the inning with a double to left. With one out,
Devin Goins (San Antonio) walked. Jake Elizondo (San Antonio) singled down the right field line to score one and put runners on the corners. Elizondo stole second and
Ryan McGowen (San Antonio) singled to short to plate Goins. He stole second and Mares singled to left to drive in a run and knock Munson out. A wild pitch scored McGowen and moved Mares to second. King walked and Bradford doubled down the right field lilne for another run. After another pitching change, Broughton singled to center for two RBI. A pair of wild pitches placed Broughton on third and a walk to Parrish, he scored on a fielder's choice that erased Parrish off the base paths.
The Rams scored two in the bottom of the sixth, but the Rattlers got one back in the seventh for the 10-3 final. Goins singled to left center to get things started and moved to second when Elizondo walked. McGowen hit a sacrifice bunt to move both runners up 90 feet and Mares walked to load the bases. King hit into a fielder's choice at shortstop, but the Rams were unable to complete the double play and Goins scored.
The two clubs return to the diamond for a doubleheader on Saturday. The game times have recently changed due to weather in the San Angelo area and will now begin at 2 p.m.
