Walks haunt Hilltoppers, St. Mary’s takes game 18-4
AUSTIN, Texas - The St. Edward's pitching staff issued 17 walks during a Heartland Conference bout with St. Mary's Thursday afternoon at Lucian-Hamilton Field. The Rattlers won the game, 18-4.
Excitement and confusion greeted St. Edward's (24-14, 22-11 HC) at the start of this game. The Hilltoppers scheduled starting pitcher, junior Tim Laine, was scratched at the last minute. Senior Chris Sharp took his place, and after a scoreless first inning, ran into some trouble in the second.
After two quick outs, a fielder's choice and two walks by Sharp loaded the bases for St. Mary's (25-12, 22-9 HC). Left fielder Tyler Migl took advantage of the situation by drilling a two-run double down. Two more walks and the Rattlers tacked on another run. Third baseman Jonathon Cisneros followed this up with a two-run single. After one more run was walked in, HIlltopper reliever Matt Anderson struck out right fielder Reagan Moczygemba to end the inning. The Rattlers scored six hits on only two hits during the frame.
The Hilltoppers got a pair of runs back in the inning. First baseman Justin Shufelt reached on a error by the Rattler shortstop and then advanced to third base on a double by right fielder Mike Hancock. Shufelt then scored on a pick off attempt that got away from the third baseman. Center fielder Chandler Mosser drove in Hancock with a bloop single to right-center field.
St. Mary's collected their third hit of the game in the third inning. Unfortunately for the Hilltoppers, it was a two run home run off of the bat of center fielder Michael Brzezinski.
Shufelt answered with a two-run home run of his own in the bottom half of the inning. With designated hitter Daniel Rufini at first base, Shufini blasted an opposite field bomb to right-center field.
This ping-pong match up continued in the fourth inning. After two quick outs, Anderson walked the bases loaded and gave up a two-run single to second baseman Collin Stock. After a pitching change by St. Edward's, Brent Davis came into the game and got Brzezinski to line out to Cross to end the inning.
The Rattlers exploded in the fifth inning. The Rattlers scored eight runs on five hits during the inning. The Hilltopper defense committed two errors during the frame.
This did it for the game. The mercy rule ended the game after the seventh inning. St. Mary's took the game, 18-4.
Shufelt led the way for the Hilltoppers, The first baseman went 1-3 with a two-run home run. Hancock went 2-4 with a run scored. Center fielder Dylan Schuch was 2-3 and Rufini went 1-3 with a run scored.
The Hilltoppers will be back in action Friday at noon to complete the weekend series with St. Mary's. The two teams will play a doubleheader beginning at noon.