LUBBOCK, Texas — St. Mary's University sophomore
Ryan Alaniz came up with two big hits, and senior pitcher
Edward Mendoza kept the Lubbock Christian hitters off balance in the final two innings to give the Rattlers' Baseball team a 5-3 victory in 10 innings on Sunday afternoon at Hays Field.
The win gives the Rattlers the 3-1 series victory and improves them to 12-2 on the year, while the Chaps fall to 5-9 overall.
Alaniz, a first baseman from San Antonio, went 3-for-5 in the game with three RBIs, including a solo home run in the ninth and a single through the left side of the infield with the bases loaded in the 10th inning to drive in both
Ashton Beaird (San Antonio) and
Garrett Brooks (Spring Branch, Texas) which were on base after being walked. Junior
Matt Mendez (Natalia, Texas) took the first pitch he saw in the ninth to the gap in left centerfield three batters after Alaniz to score freshman
Blake Allen (Bulverde, Texas) and knot the score at 3-3, forcing extra innings.
Mendoza took over on the hill for junior
Gabe Cook (San Antonio). Mendoza pitched the final two innings for the win, allowing only a hit batter to reach base. Cook entered in the sixth inning and gave up only one single and one walk, striking out three to give the Rattlers the opportunity to make the comeback. Junior
Eric Tenery started the game, pitching the first five innings. He allowed three runs on four hits with five walks and five strikeouts.
Junior
Dillon Lopez (San Antonio) was 2-for-3 with a double for the only other multi-hit game. Both Beaird and Brooks walked twice, and senior
Jacob King (San Antonio) was hit by a pitch in two of his five plate appearances.
St. Mary's returns home for a tough test next week, as they host No. 24 Angelo State at Dickson Stadium beginning on Friday at 6 p.m. for a four-game series. The Rams took three of four from Oklahoma Christian over the weekend.
