LAREDO, Texas — Offense was the name of the game in the St. Mary's University Baseball team's doubleheader at Texas A&M International on Friday, as the two teams combined to score 37 runs on 43 hits. The Rattlers won game one 14-6, while the Dustdevils took game two, 11-6.
The two teams will wrap up the four-game series on Saturday with another doubleheader beginning at Noon. Game one is scheduled for seven innings, while the nightcap will be nine innings.
Game One (St. Mary's 14, Texas A&M International 6)
The Rattlers (13-7) took advantage of free bases in the first game of the series, scoring 14 runs on eight hits with 10 walks and one hit batter.
Freshman
Blake Allen (Bulverde, Texas) collected two of the team's eight hits and drew one walk, scoring all three times he was one base. He also swiped two bags. Sophomore
Ryan Alaniz (San Antonio) also reached base three times, with a hit and a pair of walks, and junior
Dillon Lopez (San Antonio) tied for game-high honors with three RBI.
Junior
Brandon Vasquez (Round Rock, Texas) continued to pitch well, allowing only two earned runs on six hits with three strikeouts and only one walk in 4 1/3 innings of work. Senior
Joel Burgess (Atoscocita, Texas) improved to 4-0 on the season, pitching the next 1 2/3 innings in relief, giving up only one single and a walk, needing only 13 pitches to get five outs. Senior
Brody Ticer (San Antonio) finished out the game, giving up three runs on three hits with a pair of strikeouts.
The Rattlers scored first, with a run in the top of the first on a groundout by Lopez. The Dustdevils (9-10) answered with one in the bottom of the second inning. StMU scored in its final four innings, plating one in the fourth, one in the fifth, five in the sixth and six in the seventh. TAMIU scored two in the fifth and three in the seventh on a three-run homerun; however, Ticer responded with two strikeouts sandwiched around a groundout to end the threat.
Game Two (Texas A&M International 11, St. Mary's 6)
If you take away the first inning, the Rattlers outscored the Dustdevils 6-3, but the TAMIU plated eight in the first and hung on for the 11-6 win and a split on the day.
St. Mary's outhit TAMIU 13-12 in the contest, and both Lopez and senior
Garrett Brooks (Spring Branch, Texas) left the yard. Allen stole another pair of bases, and Alaniz and junior
Ethan Hughes (League City, Texas) each doubled.
Allen was 3-for-5, as the first-year player settles into the leadoff position, while Alaniz, senior
Jacob King (San Antonio) and Brooks each had two hits. The Dustdevil pitching only walked two Rattlers in the second game and hit King with a pitch, limiting the free bases.
Senior
Kaleb Gauna (Hondo, Texas) dropped to 0-3, as he allowed seven runs on four hits, walking two, hitting one, and striking out one in 2/3 of an inning.
Derek Maples (San Antonio) had a strong outing out of the bullpen, pitching 5 1/3 innings. He surrendered one earned run on five hits with one walk and six strikeouts. Sophomore
Christian Molinar (San Antonio) pitched the final two frames, giving up two runs on three hits and fanning three.
