SAN ANTONIO — All aspects of the game came together for the St. Mary's University Baseball team on Friday as they defeated Texas A&M-Kingsville 11-1 in a run-rule contest in the first game of the series at Dickson Stadium.
The Rattlers (16-7) scored 11 runs on 12 hits and made no errors in the field, while holding the Javelinas (15-8) to one run on seven hits on a windy evening in San Antonio. Four Rattlers had multiple hits, including freshman
Blake Allen (Bulverde, Texas), who was 4-for-5 out of the leadoff spot, and junior
Matt Mendez (Natalia, Texas), who was a perfect 3-for-3 with a walk.
Junior
Brandon Vasquez (Round Rock, Texas) pitched a gem, throwing a complete game with no walks and five strikeouts. It is the first complete game for a St. Mary's pitcher this season, and the first since
Kaleb Gauna (Hondo, Texas) threw a shutout against St. Edward's on March 22, 2025.
The Rattlers broke onto the scoreboard in the third inning. Mendez doubled to the gap in left center, and
Raithen Malone (Mont Belvieu, Texas) walked on four pitches. Allen singled up the middle to plate Mendez, and then hustled to second on a wild pitch.
Ashton Beaird (San Antonio) blooped a single to shallow left field to score Malone, and Allen scored on a wild pitch. With one out,
Dillon Lopez (San Antonio) singled to left to plate Beaird from second and give the Rattlers a 4-0 advantage.
The Javelinas scored their lone run in the top of the fourth on two hits as Landon Salinas, who was hit by a pitch, came around to score from second on a single to centerfield.
St. Mary's got right back to work in its half of the fourth, scoring three more runs.
Rob Gonzalez (Pleasanton, Texas) drew a four-pitch walk to get the rally started, and Mendez once again hit the gap in left center for a double. With two outs, Beaird singled to second to drive in both runners and force TAMUK to the bullpen. Beaird stole second and sophomore
Ryan Alaniz (San Antonio) was plunked. Lopez walked to load the bases, and Beaird made a fantastic read on a wild pitch that bounced back into the field of play, scampering home before either the catcher or pitcher could react.
In the fifth inning with one out, Gonzalez singled up the middle, moved to second on a bloop single off the bat of Mendez, advanced to third on a flyout by Malone and scored on a textbook perfect bunt to the left side of the infield off the bat of Allen. A misplayed ball up the middle off the bat of Beaird scored Mendez from second and brought the score to 9-1.
The bottom of the seventh saw Mendez walk on four pitches with one out. He moved to second on a wild pitch and to third on a single by Allen. Allen stole second, and Beaird walked to load the bases. After another Javelina pitching change, Alaniz hit a hot shot and the throw to first was dropped by the first baseman for the second error of the game. Lopez drove a ball to the wall in left center, driving in the winning run for the team's first walkoff win of the year.
The two teams return to the diamond on Saturday for a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.
