Box Score

A seventh inning triple from pinch hitter Mike Briseno with one out scored two to tie the third and final game of the weekend against #15 St. Mary's, but the Rattlers scored three in the top of the ninth to sweep the series against UTPB with a 5-2 Saturday afternoon win at Roden Field in Odessa, Texas.

Mike Rice got the UTPB seventh started by taking a pitch to the arm with one out. He moved to second as Scott Hastings bunted a ball to the third base side of the mound and was booted by St. Mary's starter Matt McClain. Briseno then followed with a triple into the corner in right to plate Hastings and pinch runner Zach Vlietstra to tie the game up at 2-2.

The Rattlers came back in the top of the ninth, getting one out singles from Ivan Singala and Nathan Humpal to put runners on first and second with one out. Sigala scored on a Derek Hamilton single into left and Humpal came home as the ball was misplayed in the outfield. Hamilton scored in the next at bat on an error at third to put the Rattlers up 5-2.

Both starting pitchers were dealing through the first six innings before running into trouble in the seventh. McClain struck out eight in 6.1 innings, allowing four hits and two walks while being charged for both runs, only one of them earned. Travis Wilcox pitched into the ninth, throwing 8.1 innings and giving up four runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out five.

Ozzie Bueno led UTPB with a pair of hits, bunting to get on base to lead off the sixth and singling into center to lead off the UTPB eighth. 

The Falcons are back in action at home next weekend, hosting St. Edward's for three games. First pitch of Friday's doubleheader is scheduled for noon.