San Antonio – Danny Cantu’s two-run single in the bottom of the ninth completed a three-run rally as St. Mary’s University swept a Heartland Conference baseball doubleheader against the University of Texas of the Permian Basin, 14-7, 4-3, Friday afternoon at V.J. Keefe Memorial Stadium.

UTPB took a 3-1 lead in the top of the seventh inning, putting the Rattlers behind the eight ball. In the bottom of the inning, Ricky Gonzalez (Sr., Houston) walked to lead off and his pinch runner, Josh McElroy (Fr., San Antonio) scored on a wild pitch to pull the Rattlers within one at 3-2. Two innings later the Rattlers completed the comeback. With one out Reagan Moczygemba (So., Bulverde) singled and pinch hitter Billy Richard (Fr., Schertz) followed with a single to put runners on the corners and chase starting pitcher Mario Urena. Derek Gonzalez (Jr., San Antonio) reached on catcher’s interference and one out later Danny Cantu (Sr., Laredo) came to the plate. Cantu was 0-for-4 in the game prior to the at-bat, but battled to a 3-2 count. He then lined the offering by Jordan Strode down the leftfield line for a two-run single, lifting the Rattlers to the win.

The rally made a winner out of Scott Shimek (Sr., Shiner), who went the full nine innings, allowing three runs on seven hits and three walks, while striking out seven. He improved to 7-1 with the win. Urena was the tough-luck loser, allowing just one earned run on six hits and two walks in 8 1/3 innings of work. Urena fell to 7-3 with the loss.

In the first game, the Rattlers scored nine runs in the first three innings and rolled to an easy 14-7 win. David Vaio (Sr., San Antonio) was just one of the offensive heroes, going 3-for-3 with a double, homerun, four RBI and four runs scored. Eduardo de Lachica (So., Sugarland) picked up his second win of the season in relief, while Jonathon Perez (Fr., San Antonio) notched his third save.

With the sweep St. Mary’s is now 24-11 overall and 21-8 in Heartland Conference play. They are also 16-1 at home this season. UTPB fell to 25-10 and 21-9. The two teams will wrap up their three-game series on Saturday, starting at 1 p.m. at V.J. Keefe Memorial Stadium.

St. Mary’s 14, Texas-Permian Basin 7 (Apr 03, 2009 at San Antonio, TX) (Game 1)

St. Mary’s 4, Texas-Permian Basin 3 (Apr 03, 2009 at San Antonio, TX) (Game 2)

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