Baseball Evens Record With Walkoff Win

SAN ANTONIO — Free bases throughout the game had runners on base much of the night as the St. Mary's University Baseball team won a 9-8 thrilling non-conference victory over Our Lady of the Lake on Wednesday night.
 
The two teams combined to walk 20 batters and hit another two as the Rattlers (9-9) scored nine runs on nine hits with three Saints errors. OLLU (9-9) scored its eight runs on six hits with one StMU error. 
 
Senior Easton Parrish (La Vernia, Texas) had the lone multi-hit game for the Gold & Blue, going 2-for-4 with three RBI. Sophomore Garrett Brooks (Spring Branch, Texas), senior RJ Galvan (San Antonio) and freshman Dillon Lopez (San Antonio) all scored twice.
 
Freshman Brennan Greer (San Antonio) was the first of four pitchers used. He was on the hill for 4 1/3, allowing two earned runs (four total) on two hits with five walks and four strikeouts. Junior Carlos Flores Jr (San Antonio) received the win after blowing a save in the top of the ninth. He surrendered one hit and struck out two as the two runs that scored on the lone hit were charged to freshman Matthew Janecek (Houston).
 
OLLU took an 8-7 lead in the ninth on the single off Flores Jr., but he buckled down to get his second strikeout, knowing his offense would get to work.
 
Senior catcher Devin Goins (San Antonio) drew a four-pitch walk and sophomore Tristan Moreno (Seguin, Texas) entered to pinch run. On a 1-2 pitch, Moreno broke for second, but the pitch hit Lopez to put runners on first and second. Senior Trey Guajardo (San Juan, Texas) laid down a terrific sacrifice bunt to advance the runners 90 feet. OLLU intentionally walked junior Isaiah Aguilar (Alice, Texas), who was pinch-hitting. Coach Frank Kellner again called on a pinch hitter, calling on senior Rudy Solis (El Paso, Texas). Solis singled to right center to tie the game at 8-8, but the centerfielder misplayed the ball, allowing Lopez to score the winning run.
 
The Rattlers have this weekend off from Lone Star Conference play, returning to the diamond in Lubbock on Friday, March 8 for a four-game set at Lubbock Christian.