TYLER, Texas — The St. Mary's University Baseball team forced extra innings in the series finale at No. 3 UT Tyler on Sunday, but a hit batter and error helped the Patriots complete the sweep, 5-4.
With two outs in the 10th inning, senior
Easton Parrish (La Vernia, Texas) blasted his 13th home run of the year to give the Rattlers (28-22) a short-lived 4-3 lead. The Patriots (41-9) responded with a single, hit batter, and a sacrifice bunt where the throw went awry, tying the game. Another single allowed UTT to walk off winners.
Senior
Brendan Concannon (Flower Mound, Texas) went 2-for-4 at the plate, as the Rattlers scored four runs on six hits with one UTT miscue. Senior
Hogan Heller (San Antonio) drove in two runs, while sophomore
Dillon Lopez (San Antonio) scored twice after getting a hit and reaching on an error. He also stole a base.
Junior
Hagen Rose (Troy, Texas) had a solid start, allowing three runs on six hits with two walks and two strikeouts through six innings of work. He did not figure into the decision.
Matt Sandoval (Uvalde, Texas),
Brandon Vasquez (Round Rock, Texas),
Cameron Hodges (San Antonio), and
Carlos Flores Jr. (San Antonio) all appeared in relief, with Flores taking the hard-luck loss. Hodges was extremely effective, facing five batters and giving up two hits, forcing two double plays in 1 2/3 innings.
The Rattlers earn the six-seed at the Lone Star Conference Championship and will play a best-of-three series at St. Edward's in the first round. Game one will be at 2 p.m. on Friday at Lucian-Hamilton Field. StMU and St. Ed's split the regular season series with the Rattlers winning the first two games.
