GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — The No. 22 St. Mary's University Baseball team moved to the winners' bracket of the NCAA South Central Regional with a 6-2 victory over Lubbock Christian on Thursday evening, avenging a 7-1 loss from last week in the Lone Star Conference Tournament.
 
The Rattlers improved to 39-17 on the year, while the Chaparrals dropped to 34-22. 
 
Junior Brandon Vasquez (Round Rock, Texas) continued his stellar streak on the mound, allowing only one run on four hits with five walks and five strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings in a no-decision. It was his first start since April 17 after coming out of the bullpen in his last four appearances. 
 
Junior Matthew Janecek (Houston) came in and pitched the next 1 1/3 innings, giving up one run on two hits with a walk, and two strikeouts, while senior Joel Burgess (Atascocita, Texas) did not surrender a hit in the final 2 1/3 frames, striking out one to improve to 6-2 on the year.
 
The Rattlers doubled up the Chaps in hits, 12-to-6, with Ashton Beaird (San Antonio), Garrett Brooks (Spring Branch, Texas), Dillon Lopez (San Antonio) and Raithen Malone (Mont Belvieu, Texas) all collecting two hits. Beaird drove in two runs, while Ryan Alaniz (San Antonio) drew two of the five walks issued by Chaps pitching. 
 
A double to centerfield by Jacob King (San Antonio) got things going for the Gold and Blue in the bottom of the fifth. A sacrifice bunt by Matt Gauna (San Antonio) moved him to third and he scored on a single up the middle by Malone. Blake Allen (Bulverde, Texas) drew a walk and forced a pitching change. Both moved up 90 feet on a wild pitch and Beaird's single up the middle made the score 2-2, plating Malone.
 
After LCU scored one in the sixth and one in the seventh to tie the game at 2-2, the Rattlers immediately regained the lead.
 
Ethan Hughes (League City, Texas), pinch-hitting, continued his hot bat in the postseason, as he singled to deep in the hole at shortstop, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Malone, hustled to third on a deep flyout by Allen and scored on a single off the pitcher's glove hit by Beaird for the 3-2 lead. Beaird advanced to second on a wild pitch, stole third base and scored on a single up the middle by Brooks. Prior to Brooks' hit, Alaniz walked, and he scored on a single laced to shallow left field by Lopez. An error by the shortstop on a sharply hit ball by Rob Gonzalez (Pleasanton, Texas) plated Brooks for a four-run inning and the 6-2 final.
 
St. Mary's faces Colorado Mesa on Friday, May 15 at 8 p.m. (CT)/7 p.m. (MT).