AUSTIN, Texas – As it turned out, six wasn’t a lucky number for the newly sixth-ranked St. Mary’s baseball team.

Succumbing to a six-run seventh inning from St. Edward’s on Saturday, the Rattlers fell 9-8 in the series finale. This came after also losing the previous day because of another six-run inning from the Hilltoppers.

The defeats marked the first this season in Heartland Conference play for St. Mary’s (15-4, 13-2), who prior to St. Edward’s sudden explosion appeared to have taken control of Saturday’s game.

St. Mary’s led 5-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning, when the Hilltoppers clawed back into the game with a three-run surge. St. Mary’s tacked on two more runs in the top of the next frame, though, to take a seemingly strong 7-3 advantage.

But St. Edward’s had other ideas, driving in six to claim a lead they would not relinquish in the “Battle of the Saints” showdown.

Catcher M.P. Cokinos (Jr., Houston) went 3 for 5 with two RBIs in the game, while emerging second baseman Mario Maldonado (Fr., Laredo, Texas) was 2 for 4 with two RBIs. Billy Richard (Jr., Schertz, Texas), Josh McElroy (Sr., Helotes, Texas), Brandon Bates (Jr., Boerne, Texas) and Esteban Raygoza (Sr., San Antonio) each had one RBI apiece.

St. Mary’s will try to return to its winning ways when it hosts Incarnate Word at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Nelson Wolff Stadium.

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