Late Fireworks Not Enough to Complete Comeback for Baseball

AUSTIN, Texas — Despite three home runs in the final three innings and four in the game, the St. Mary's University baseball team was unable to complete the comeback at rival St. Edward's, falling 12-9 in the first of a four-game series.
 
The Rattlers (14-21) dug a big hole to get out of as the Hilltoppers (17-18) posted seven runs in the bottom of the first inning after StMU scored one in the top of the frame. The Rattlers added one in the second and one in the third to cut the deficit to four, 7-3, but SEU got two of those runs back with one in the fifth and one in the sixth. StMU collected four runs in the seventh, but the 'Toppers answered with three in the eighth. The Rattlers rallied in the ninth for two but were unable to plate any more for the 12-9 final.
 
Sophomore Garrett Brooks (Spring Branch, Texas) was 2-for-5 with four RBI and both hits left the yard. Seniors RJ Galvan (Alice, Texas), Rudy Solis (El Paso, Texas) and Jorge Cuevas (El Paso) all added two hits as the Rattlers scored their nine runs on 10 hits with one SEU error.
 
Brooks took a 3-1 pitch over the fence in right-center field for the 1-0 lead. It is the seventh home run of the year for the sophomore.
 
Senior Devin Goins (San Antonio) and Solis drew back-to-back walks to begin the second inning. A passed ball moved them up 90 feet and Goins scored on a groundout to third off the bat of Hogan Heller (San Antonio) to make the score 7-2.
 
In the third inning, senior Jacob Elizondo (San Antonio) was plunked by a pitch, stole second and scored when Galvan doubled to right.
 
St. Edward's scored one each in the fifth and sixth to push its lead back to six, 9-3. The Rattler bats went to work in the seventh inning.
 
With one out, Cuevas singled to center field. Elizondo walked and Brooks took the first pitch he saw over the right field wall for three runs. After a pitching change, Galvan also gave the first pitch he saw a ride over the right field fence that was an absolute no-doubter to bring the score to 9-7.
 
It marked the second time this season the Rattlers have hit consecutive home runs in a game, as Galvan and freshman Dillon Lopez did it at Lubbock Christian on March 10. The Hilltoppers scored three runs on three hits in the bottom of the eighth.
 
Galvan walked to lead off the ninth and senior Easton Parrish (La Vernia, Texas) cleared a 3-1 pitch over the left field wall for the 12-9 final score.
 
The two teams meet in a doubleheader on Saturday at noon and wrap up the series Sunday at 1 p.m.