AUSTIN, Texas — Whatever was said in the post-game huddle after game one fired up the St. Mary's University Baseball team for game two, as they bounced back from an 11-4 loss to St. Edward's in game one to win game two in lopsided fashion, 17-0.
Junior
Gabe Cook (San Antonio) had the best outing of his career, throwing a perfect game through 5 2/3 innings until Dylan Tate for the Hilltoppers (19-9) doubled in the bottom of the sixth. Cook struck out a season-high six batters and did not walk or hit a batter. Senior
Daniel Vogt (Ava, Ill.) threw a scoreless seventh inning, allowing one hit, in preserving the shutout, and giving the Rattlers their second game this season with no free passes allowed.
The Rattlers (21-8) scored 10 or more runs for the 10th time in 28 games this season in the nightcap, ensuring at least a split in the annual Battle of the Saints. The 17 runs scored are the second-most scored in a seven-inning game this year, trailing only the 22 in the run-rule win at Sul Ross State (22-9) during the first week. They are also the fourth-most runs ever scored by the Rattlers in the series, as three other times StMU has plated 18 (March 9, 2007, 18-4; April 9, 2009, 18-4; March 19, 2022, 18-8).
Both sophomore
Rob Gonzalez (San Antonio) and junior
Ashton Beaird (San Antonio) hit home runs in the 8-run fourth inning. Gonzalez hit a three-run shot on an 0-2 count over the wall in right field, while four batters later, Beaird went to the same spot with the bases loaded for the second grand slam of the year (
Dillon Lopez). The eight runs in the frame are the second-most in an inning this season, behind the 14 at Sul Ross State in the third inning on Feb. 1.
The Rattlers also drew seven walks and were hit by a pitch seven times, again the second-most this season behind getting plunked nine times at Sul Ross State in the season opener. Gonzalez was hit twice, while sophomore
Ryan Alaniz (San Antonio) walked three times.
The loss in game one snapped a seven-game winning streak for the Rattlers, as the Rattlers committed four errors and managed only five hits in the seven innings. Sophomore
Derek Maples (San Antonio) struck out six in his second-straight start and now has set down six in each of his last three appearances. Junior
Matthew Janecek (Houston) dropped to 2-2 on the year, pitching 1 1/3 innings in relief.
Alaniz collected two of the team's five hits in the first game, doubling twice, and had two RBIs to pace the team.
The two teams conclude the 2026 regular season series on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Lucian Hamilton Field.
