SAN ANTONIO — The winning streak for the St. Mary's University Baseball team ended at five games, as Lubbock Christian won both games of the Saturday doubleheader, 9-5 and 7-2.
The Rattlers (8-4, 7-4) scored the final five runs of the first game, rallying late in an attempt to come back for the second straight game, but the Chaparrals (9-6, 9-6) held on for the win. LCU scored six unanswered in game two to post the doubleheader sweep.
St. Mary's will look to get a series split on Sunday as the two teams meet for the final time at 1 p.m.
GAME ONE
Jake Elizondo (San Antonio),
Hogan Heller (San Antonio) and
Matt Mendez (Natalia, Texas) all had two-hit games, while
Garrett Brooks (Spring Branch, Texas) and
Dillon Lopez (San Antonio) each recorded two RBIs.
Gabe Cook (San Antonio) started for the Rattlers on the hill, pitching 2 1/3 innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits with five walks and three strikeouts.
Brody Ticer (San Antonio) pitched the next 3 2/3 innings, giving up one earned run on four hits with two walks and two strikeouts and
Braeden Brown (Sinton, Texas) struck out two of the three batters he faced in the seventh.
Ryan Markwardt, the reigning National Pitcher of the Week by the NCBWA, threw six innings for LCU, giving up four runs on six hits, striking out 10 and walking one. Tyler Manyo gave up one run on two hits in the final inning of work.
A crooked number early hurt the Rattlers, as LCU scored six in the top of the second frame, plating the six runs on only three hits with three walks, an error and a wild pitch.
In the sixth inning, trailing 9-0, the Gold and Blue put together a four-run inning. With one out Elizondo doubled down the left field line and scored on a home run to right field by Brooks. With two outs, Heller singled up the middle and was able to trot home when Lopez cleared the right field fence. A Mendez home run in the seventh inning on the first pitch he saw gave the Rattlers their five runs.
GAME TWO
Heller (two) and Lopez (three) combined for all five of the Rattlers hits in the nightcap, as Lopez was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate, while Heller drove in both runs, scoring senior
Trey Guajardo (San Juan, Texas) twice.
Javier De Alejandro (San Antonio) didn't allow an earned run in 4 1/3 frames and scattered only two hits, but he walked five and fanned two in a no decision.
Cole Brady walked six and gave up two hits for five earned runs in 2/3 innings to fall to 1-1 on the season.
Brett Brown (Sinton) pitched the final two innings, surrendering one run on two hits with three walks and one strikeout.
In the second inning with one out, Guajardo walked on five pitches and scored on a double to centerfield by Heller for the first run of the game.
Lubbock Christian tied the game with a run in the fourth, but the Rattlers immediately answered with one in the bottom of the inning. Guajardo once again walked with one out and Heller drove a double to right center, plating Guajardo for the 2-1 advantage. The Chaps scored three each in the fifth and sixth innings for the 7-2 final.
