SAN ANTONIO — The No. 17 St. Mary's University Baseball team dropped a 5-2 extra-inning decision to #RV Angelo State on Sunday at Dickson Stadium.
Angelo State (14-4) struck first in the second inning when Payton Bush tripled and later scored on a single by Brett Smajstrla to give the Rams a 1-0 lead. St. Mary's (12-6) answered in the third. Matt Mendez (Natalia, Texas) was hit by a pitch and eventually came around to score on a Garrett Brooks (Spring Branch, Texas) RBI single, knotting the game at 1-1 through three innings.
The Rattlers took their first lead in the fifth. Rob Gonzalez (Pleasanton, Texas) singled to start the rally and later scored on Brooks' second RBI knock of the afternoon, putting StMU ahead 2-1. The advantage held into the ninth inning before Angelo State evened the score at 2-2 on a sacrifice bunt that was paired with a fielding error.
The Rams carried that momentum into extra innings. In the top of the 10th, Angelo State plated three runs on singles from Chase Pendley, Bush and Smajstrla to seize a 5-2 lead. St. Mary's was unable to respond in the bottom half.
Eric Tenery (Kerrville, Texas) turned in a strong start, tossing six innings while allowing just one earned run on six hits. He struck out six and induced three of the Rattlers' six double plays. The six twin killings set a new school record, surpassing the previous mark of four, which had been accomplished 10 times.
Senior Edward Mendoza (Eagle Pass, Texas) provided 3 2/3 innings of relief, allowing four earned runs on six hits with three strikeouts. Derek Maples (San Antonio) faced three batters in his appearance, surrendering two hits while recording one strikeout.
Offensively, Brooks paced the Rattlers with two hits and two RBIs, including a double. Gonzalez finished 3-for-4 and scored both StMU runs, while Dillon Lopez (San Antonio) added two hits and four assists defensively.
St. Mary's returns to action at 1 p.m. Friday, March 6, traveling to Laredo to open a series against Texas A&M International at Jorge Haynes Field. The Dustdevils enter the weekend after splitting their series with Oklahoma Christian.
