Baseball Ends Short in Back-and-Forth Battle

AUSTIN, Texas — As it often happens with rivals, the outcome was decided at the last minute as St. Mary's University fought back from an early deficit to knot the score in the top of the ninth inning before they saw their hopes dashed with a walk-off in the bottom of the ninth, 15-14.
 
The Hilltoppers (18-20) scored eight of the first nine runs in the game before the Rattlers (16-22) plated the next 10 for an 11-8 advantage. SEU scored six of the next seven to regain the lead, 14-12. StMU knotted the game with a pair in the ninth but were unable to force extra innings in working a series split.
 
All 18 players in the two lineups recorded at least one hit. Senior RJ Galvan (Alice, Texas) and Devin Goins (San Antonio) led the game with three hits each and Goins collected a game-high five RBI. Fellow senior Easton Parrish (La Vernia, Texas) scored four times.
 
Each team used five pitchers. The Rattlers had freshman Brennan Greer (San Antonio) start on the hill. San Antonians Brody Ticer, Miguel Bustamante, Cameron Hodges and Carlos Flores, Jr., each worked in relief. Flores was tagged with the loss to fall to 1-3 on the year.
 
St. Mary's returns home to host #4 West Texas A&M beginning on Friday at 6 p.m. The Buffs enter the series winning six consecutive contests and five straight series.