March 12, 2012

Final Stats

SAN ANTONIO, Texas - The bats finally came to life for the Texas A&M International University baseball team in game three versus No. 11 St. Mary's, but the Dustdevils still could not pull out the win falling to the Rattlers 2-1 Monday night at Wolff Stadium.

After combining for only eight hits in the opening two games of the series, the Dustdevils out-hit the Rattlers 8-4 in game three but stranded seven runners on base and failed to take advantage of four St. Mary's errors as TAMIU dropped their second consecutive 2-1 decision.

Jerry Hawkins took the loss for TAMIU falling to 1-3 on the season. After giving up two runs in the bottom of the first, Hawkins blanked the Rattlers over the next four giving up only two more hits with two strikeouts and a walk. Danny Navarro threw two no-hit innings in relief, but the offense couldn't provide the spark to get the Dustdevils over the hump.

Billy Richard gave the Rattlers a quick 1-0 lead, leading off the bottom half of the first with a solo homerun. Josh McElroy followed with a single and moved to second on a stolen base. Two batters later, McElroy came across on a wild pitch to make it a 2-0 St. Mary's lead.

In the top of the ninth, the Dustdevils finally got a rally going but came up just short. Korey Gosselin led off with a single and was quickly replaced by the speedy Hector Gonzalez. Alex Salas followed with another single and both runners were moved over thanks to a sacrifice bunt by Matt Arruda. Sean Smedley picked up an RBI plating Gonzalez on a ground out to the shortstop and pinch hitter Roberto Castillo struck out swinging to end the game.

Will Wurth led the Dustdevils at the plate going 2-3, followed by Alex Salas who finished 2-4. The loss drops the Dustdevils to 11-11 on the season and 7-8 in conference play. The Dustdevils will now travel to Kerville, Texas to battle Schreiner College, before returning home for a three game set versus St. Edward's.