May 2, 2009
San Antonio – Alfonso Maldonado allowed just two hits over eight innings to win his sixth game of the season, helping St. Mary’s University to its second straight shutout, 5-0, over Lincoln University in Heartland Conference baseball action Saturday afternoon at V.J. Keefe Memorial Stadium.
With the win and the University of the Incarnate Word’s sweep of the University of the Texas of the Permian Basin, St. Mary’s is now in first place in the Heartland Conference with just three games left in the season. The Rattlers are 31-12 (.721), ½ game ahead of Incarnate Word (30-13, .697) and one game ahead of UTPB (32-14, .696). If the Rattlers sweep Texas A&M International University in their three-game series next Friday and Saturday in Laredo, the Rattlers will win the Heartland Conference Championship and will earn the conference’s automatic berth into the NCAA South Central Region.
Maldonado (Jr., Laredo) had his best start as a Rattler, allowing just six total baserunners in eight innings. He struck out nine and walked two to improve to 6-4 this season. Eduardo de Lachica (So., Sugarland) tossed a perfect ninth to complete the victory.
The Rattlers took the early lead in the third inning when Reagan Moczygemba (So., Bulverde) smacked a double to left, scoring both Danny Cantu (Sr., Laredo) and Michael Brzezinski (Sr., Helotes). The next inning the Rattlers increased their lead to 4-0 when Cantu and Jonathon Cisneros (Jr., San Antonio) hit back-to-back run-scoring singles. In the fifth inning Ricky Gonzalez (Sr., Houston) wrapped up the scoring with an RBI double, scoring David Vaio (Sr., San Antonio) and making the score 5-0. Cantu and Cisneros led the offense with three each.
With the win the Rattlers are 35-15 overall. St. Mary’s has won four straight games and nine of its last 11. Lincoln is now 13-32 overall, 12-30 in Heartland Conference play.
St. Mary’s (Texas) 5, Lincoln 0 (May 02, 2009 at San Antonio, TX)
Weather: 82, Mostly Cloudy