AUSTIN, Texas — From the highest of highs to the lowest of lows in a matter of minutes. The St. Mary's University Baseball team tied the game at 10-10 on a two-run home run by senior
Jacob King in the top of the ninth. However, St. Edward's was able to win in the bottom of the inning on a walk with the bases loaded to advance to the second week of the Lone Star Conference Championship.
Each team collected 11 hits on the day, but the Rattlers (29-24) committed five errors, helping the Hilltoppers win the best-of-three series in three games. In Saturday's game, the Rattlers scored 10 runs in the final three innings to take the win and tie the series, while on Sunday, the Hilltoppers (34-19) scored eight of their 11 in the final three frames to win the season series 4-3.
All nine hitters in the starting lineup for St. Mary's reached base at least once on Sunday, with King (San Antonio), senior
Jacob Elizondo (San Antonio) and senior
Easton Parrish (La Vernia, Texas) each collecting two hits. King also led the team with four RBIs.
Freshman
Derek Maples (San Antonio) was credited with the loss, his first of the year. He gave up one earned run on three hits, with three walks - two of which were intentional - in 2/3 of an inning.
Senior
Javier De Alejandro (San Antonio) started the game, surrendering three runs on three hits, walking three and fanning four in 2 1/3 innings. Five other pitchers appeared between De Alejandro and Maples.
With one out in the first, sophomore
Dillon Lopez (San Antonio) hit a home run to left center. With two outs, Parrish singled to right field, senior
Hogan Heller (San Antonio) walked, and both scored on a double to the gap in left center by King for the 3-0 lead. De Alejandro worked out of a two-out jam with the bases loaded in the bottom of the first as he got Graham to fly out to keep the score at 3-0.
Junior
Jaxon Daigre (Pinehurst, Texas) hit a hot shot back to the pitcher for a single to kick off the second. With one out, Daigre stole second after several throws to first base by the pitcher to hold him close. Elizondo smoked a ball through the left side of the infield to put runners on the corners, and Lopez continued to see the ball well, walking to load the bases. Junior
Garrett Brooks (Spring Branch, Texas) singled off the end of the bat to the left side of the infield to plate two and knock the second pitcher for the 'Toppers out of the game. Ben Smedshammer walked Parrish to load the bases but left them loaded with the scoreboard reading 5-0. De Alejandro struck out the side in the bottom half of the inning, working around a walk to get his offense right back to work.
The Hilltoppers scored three runs in the third inning on two hits and an error to cut the deficit to two, 5-3. StMU forced SEU into leaving the bases loaded in the fourth and two runners on in the fifth after a fantastic relay from left allowed Parrish to tag out Trevor Sebek at the plate to preserve the two-run lead.
Senior
Trey Guajardo (San Juan, Texas) hit a solo shot to right center to lead off the sixth and push the lead back to three, 6-3. St. Edward's plated four in the seventh on three hits to gain its first lead of the day, 7-6.
The Hilltoppers went back to Friday's game one winner, Kobe Jaramillo in the eighth. With two outs, junior
Raithen Malone (Mont Belvieu, Texas) walked and Elizondo hit a no-doubt home run to left field to give the lead right back to the Rattlers, 8-7.
Three runs on two hits and another miscue by the Rattlers gave the lead back to St. Ed's, 10-8. With one out in the ninth, Parrish drew a four-pitch walk. With two outs, King squeaked a ball over the left field fence for his fifth home run of the year to knot the score.
A double and a fielding error by the Rattlers put the winning run on third base. StMU chose to intentionally walk the next two hitters to load the bases to set up the force at any base, but a four-pitch walk ended the season for the Gold and Blue.
