Rattlers split series with Churchill Chargers

After winning Game 1 8-2, San Marcos couldn’t seal the deal at home as the Rattlers fell to San Antonio Churchill 6-1 as the Chargers forced a decisive Game 3 in front of a packed house.

It was a tough night for Head Coach Bryan Webb as the Rattlers were plagued with miscues.

“We didn’t execute,” Webb said. “We left balls up in the zone early, and they hit those balls early. We couldn’t execute a bunt coverage which left runners on base. They just capitalized on our mistakes like we did on them in the last game. They got us, which is why the series is tied 1-1. Now we have to go up there and win the series.”

As the Chargers kicked off the game with a leadoff single followed by a double, Churchill scored the first run of the game by scoring on a wild pitch to take an early 1-0 lead.

Churchill then extended their lead with a fielder's choice that scored the base runner as the Chargers went up 2-0.

Churchill then tacked on four runs in the top of the third to take a commanding 6-0 lead.

Despite the Game 2 loss, the Rattlers look to rebound for Game 3.

“We regroup,” Webb said. “Our position coaches will regroup our players. We have to settle down, relax, and go back to the basics. There is a lot of frustration but they [San Marcos] did try. We could have easily been run -ruled in that ballgame but we settled down.”

The game was the exact opposite on Thursday which saw the Rattlers defeat the Chargers 8-2 in stunning fashion.

Trailing 2-0 in the top of the 7th inning, first baseman Stephen Wilder kicked off the inning with a leadoff single.

With Landon Munoz coming in to pinch run, outfielder Ryan Hix then hit a single into left field to put runners on first and second.

Third baseman Dylan Nunex then laid down the bunt to not only move the runners but he also reached base safely to load the bases.

Pinch hitter Marco Duenez then hit a hard ground ball to the pitcher to keep the bases loaded to score the runner from third as the Rattlers cut the lead down to 2-1.

Following a lineout out in left field, San Marcos took their first lead of the game as second baseman Dallas Calderon hit a two-run RBI single into center field as the Rattlers went up 3-2.

A Churchill error on the next-bat allowed another-run to score as San Marcos extended their lead to 4-2 with runners on first and second.

After outfielder Reagan Chomel was hit by the pitch to load the bases, outfielder Major Pellien laid down the bunt to score a run and keep the bases loaded as the Rattlers went up 5-2.

Following a strikeout, shortstop Kutter Gage Webb scored on a wild pitch before Hix cleared the bases with a double as San Marcos went up 8-2.

The San Marcos defense closed out the game, converting a double play following a leadoff walk before ending the game on a groundout.

With the series tied up at 1-1, San Marcos is now ready to go back to the basics following the tough Game 2 loss.

“That guy on the mound threw a pretty good game,” Webb said. “We hit a lot of balls that are just right to them but that’s the game of baseball. In baseball you are going to get beat which is why you play a series. We just have to settle back down and execute.”

Game 3 started after time of press. A recap will be posted on the Daily Record Website shortly after the game's conclusion.

coltonbcmwilliams @sanmarcosrecord.com Twitter @ColtonBMc