By Chad Peters

San Antonio — Despite cutting a six-run deficit to three in the final inning, the Rattlers’ men’s baseball team could not muster a big enough rally to defeat Texas A&M-Kingsville on Saturday, losing its season opener 6-3 at V.J. Keefe Memorial Stadium.

Junior outfielder Ryan Femath homered on a two-run shot in the bottom of the ninth inning to erase the potential shutout and bring the Rattlers back into the game. Three batters later, junior short stop Ray Camacho scored off a sacrifice fly by senior outfielder/first baseman Tanner Moy.

But the Rattlers (0-1) stranded two base runners in the inning, unable to execute the comeback. In all, St. Mary’s, batting .235 as a team, stranded 13 base runners in the contest.

Femath, a first-year Rattler, led the team with 2 RBI and a 2-for-4 day at the plate.

St. Mary’s got into a hole midway through the contest, as the Javelinas scored all six runs in a span of five innings. Rattlers pitcher Caleb Staudt threw a shutout threw the first two innings, but the Rattlers quickly found themselves in a 3-0 deficit by the fourth inning.

Staudt (0-1), who struck out the side in the first inning, finished with five strikeouts.

Head coach Charlie Migl is in pursuit of his 700th victory this season. Migl currently holds a 690-326 mark.

The Rattlers play again on Tuesday against Abilene Christian. The opening pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. at V.J. Keefe Memorial Stadium.

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