May 28, 2012
CARY, N.C. – The scene looked and felt familiar for the Rattlers. The result, though, was nothing like what they’ve grown accustomed to.
With their backs against the wall late in Sunday’s opener of the College World Series, the Rattlers’ comeback kids couldn’t get their bats going, falling 4-1 to Delta State before 614 fans at the USA Baseball National Training Complex.
The Statesmen (47-13) used a three-run eighth inning to break open a 1-1 game on a day that saw a 71-minute rain and lightning delay in the middle of the sixth inning.
Delta State’s comeback started with a two-out, two strike double down the right-field line from Michael Vinson, which Tyler Aldridge followed with a one-RBI triple to make it 4-1.
It was the kind of moment the Rattlers usually create, having totaled 11 runs in the eighth and ninth innings in their four wins at the South Central Regional.
This time, though, they couldn’t duplicate that kind of magic.
With the loss, St. Mary’s (48-10) falls into the loser’s bracket and will play Indianapolis at 2 p.m. (CDT) Tuesday at the same site.
Rattlers starting pitcher Rene Solis (So., San Antonio) lasted 7.1 innings, striking out four in the process. He was hung with the loss, making him 13-3 on the season.
Mario Maldonado (Fr., Laredo, Texas) scored the Rattlers’ lone run, crossing home plate in the third on Derek Moczygemba’s (Jr., Bulverde, Texas) sacrifice bunt. But St. Mary’s lead didn’t last long, as Delta State tied it up in the top of the fourth.
No Rattler had multiple hits in the game, with the Statesmen outhitting the Rattlers 11-4 in the contest.