The UTPB baseball team scored four runs in the bottom of ninth inning to earn a 9-8 comeback victory against St. Mary’s in Lone Star Conference play Thursday at Roden Field.
After the Rattlers scored twice in the top of the ninth to extend their lead to three (8-5), the Falcons sent eight hitters to the plate in their half of the inning.
Oswaldo Godina started the rally with a single and moved to second on Devin Ferrari’s ground out to first.
Gabriel Morin walked and then Pedro Astacio doubled to drive in Godina and put runners on second and third.
Mario Pena then singled to drive in both Morin and Astacio with the tying run.
Marcus Johnson was hit by a pitch, which prompted a pitching change by St. Mary’s, but reliever Connor Schmidt.
He walked the first batter he faced, Gabe Melendez, to load the bases and then issued another watch, to Michael Clapperton, to push Pena across the plate with the winning run.
The four-game series, which started on Thursday because of Easter on Sunday, continues with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. Friday at Roden Field.
