PORTALES, N.M. — It was Good Friday in more ways than one for the St. Mary's University Baseball team, as they won both games of the doubleheader at Eastern New Mexico at the beginning of the Easter Weekend, winning game one 3-2, and exploding for the 15-6 win in game two.
The Rattlers are now 26-10 on the season and have a chance to win their ninth series in 2026 with a victory on Saturday in the finale against the Greyhounds (14-23). First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. (CT)/1 p.m. (MT).
GAME ONE RECAP (St. Mary's 3, Eastern New Mexico 2)
The Rattlers came back from a 2-0 deficit, scoring two runs in the sixth and the winning run in the seventh for a 3-2 victory in game one on Saturday.
Ashton Beaird and
Dillon Lopez, both San Antonio natives, hit back-to-back singles with one out in the sixth inning. A fielding error on Lopez's shot to left moved them up 90 feet to second and third, and after a pitching change, senior
Garrett Brooks (Spring Branch, Texas) hit a bloop single to shallow centerfield to score both.
With one out in the top of the seventh, freshman
Blake Allen (Bulverde, Texas) drew a four-pitch walk and scored from first base on a triple to the gap in left center by Beaird for the winning run.
Beaird collected two of the team's seven hits, as the top eight spots in the batting order reached base at least once during the seven innings.
Sophomore
Derek Maples (San Antonio) continued to pitch well, allowing two runs on six hits with two walks and three strikeouts. Senior
Edward Mendoza (Eagle Pass, Texas) pitched the final two innings without a 'Hounds hit, though he did have two base runners with a walk and a hit batter, and he also fanned two of the eight batters he faced.
GAME TWO RECAP (St. Mary's 15, Eastern New Mexico 6)
For the second time this season, the Rattlers had 19 hits in a seven-inning game, tying game three at Sul Ross on the opening weekend for the most hits in a contest.
The Rattlers scored in every inning except the sixth, saving the biggest inning for last, plating six in the seventh inning for the lopsided win. All nine hitters collected at least one hit and scored once.
Allen led the club with a 4-for-4 night from the leadoff spot. He also stole a base, scored twice, drove in two, and had a sacrifice fly, tying his career-high with four hits. Beaird was also 2-for-3 with three runs scored, three RBI, a triple and a sacrifice fly, and he was hit by a pitch.
Sophomore
Ryan Alaniz (San Antonio) and senior
Matt Gauna (San Antonio) were both 3-for-5 and Alaniz had a pair of doubles.
Junior
Gabe Cook (San Antonio) remained unbeaten on the year, moving to 5-0 after pitching five innings. He gave up three runs on four hits, walking two and striking out five. Senior
Kaleb Gauna (Hondo, Texas) struggled in his 1/3 of an inning, but junior
Braeden Brown (Sinton, Texas) looked strong in allowing one run on one hit with a strikeout in the final 1 2/3 innings.
