February 21, 2009
San Antonio – Fifteenth-ranked St. Mary’s University pounded out 23 hits and scored 19 runs to complete a four-game sweep of St. Edward’s University, 12-4, 7-5, in Heartland Conference baseball action Saturday afternoon at V.J. Keefe Memorial Stadium.
In the first game, Ben Odom (Jr., Richmond) allowed three runs on four hits in 4 1/3 innings of work to pick up his first win of the season. Mark Herrera (Fr., Victoria) allowed just one hit over the final 2 2/3 innings, while striking out six. Offensively the Rattlers put five runs on the boards over the first two innings, and then broke the game open with five more runs in the fourth inning. Eight different Rattlers had at least one hit in the game, with Colin Stock (So., Klamath Falls, Ore.) leading the way with three hits, including his second homerun of the season. Billy Richard (Fr., Schertz) went 2-for-2 with two runs scored.
In the second game the Hilltoppers took an early 2-0 lead on a Mike Hancock homerun. In the second inning the Rattlers took over. With one out Richard reached on an error. Ryan Morrow (So., Bulverde) followed with a single and Tyler Migl (Fr., San Antonio) smacked a double to score Richard, tying the game at 2-2. Michael Brzezinski (Sr., Helotes) brought home two runs with his second double of the game, giving the Rattlers a 4-2 lead. Reagan Moczygemba (So., Bulverde) wrapped up the scoring in the inning with a RBI single.
The Hilltoppers pulled to within one in the fourth inning, scoring twice, and chasing starting pitcher Tyler Cales (Sr., San Antonio). But Alfonso Maldonado (Jr., Laredo) came on in relief and retired the side, keeping the Rattlers on top 5-4. From there David Vaio (Sr., San Antonio) and Brzezinski smacked solo homeruns to keep the Hilltoppers at bay.
Maldonado picked up his third win of the season, allowing just one run on one hit with one walk in 3 2/3 innings of work.
With the sweep the Rattlers are now 11-3 overall and 9-3 in Heartland Conference play. St. Edward’s fell to 6-8, 5-6. St. Mary’s will return to action on Tuesday when they travel to Abilene to face 13th-ranked Abilene Christian University in a single game at 4 p.m.