San Marcos — After a difficult tournament in Brenham, the San Marcos High School baseball team returned to its own friendly confines, looking to push its record to .500 on the season.

The Rattlers hosted the Cibolo Steele Knights (6-4-1) on Tuesday night, but were not very hospitable handing their opponent a 9-6 loss at Rattler Field.

With the win, SMHS improved its record to 6-6 overall.

“Our schedule has been brutal this year,” SMHS head coach Bryan Webb said. “We have played some of the top teams in the state of Texas. Our schedule tells us how good we are, we know what we need to work on.”

The Knights got on the board first in the second inning when SMHS starting pitcher Blaine Bagley overthrew the runner at first base after a bunt, allowing a run to score from second base.

Senior first baseman Austin Landin then singled in two more runs for a 3-0 advantage. The Knights added another run off another Rattler error to grab a 4-0 lead.

The Rattlers answered in their half of the second, rallying back with five runs.

Back-to-back hits led off the inning, followed by bunt from Dorian Perez that loaded the bases with no outs. That allowed a walk and a sacrifice fly to score San Marcos’ first two runs.

A single from EJ Alva and a sacrifice from David Sambrano tied the game 4-4 with two outs on the board, as the Rattlers then took the lead off a blooper hit from senior Isaiah Cantu.

“We got some clutch hits with people on,” Webb said. “That is what a good ball club will do.”

Both teams went back and forth before the Rattlers distanced themselves from the Knights in the bottom of the fifth. That’s  when Alva smacked a triple to left-center field to give SMHS a commanding 9-5 lead.

“We finally have a lineup that is consistent,” Webb said. “The team is starting to turn the corner right about the time we need to with district starting next week.”

However, the most crucial moment of the game came in the top of the fifth inning. The Rattlers were winning 6-5 when the Knights had the bases loaded with one out.  

A pitching change placed Andrew Carranco on the mound, as he mowed down the next two batters he faced to get the Rattlers out of the jam.

“Andrew came in and did a heck of a job,” Webb said.  “He came in a key spot with the bases loaded and one out.  That is a senior stepping up when we needed it, and it was the turning point in the game.”

In three innings, Carranco struck out three batters and allowed no runs.  He was relieved in the seventh by senior Jeremy Gonzalez who closed out the game.

“Our pitching depth has already been tested because all of our pitchers have pitched numerous innings,” Webb said. “In district, when we play to two games a week, it is going to be interesting. We have the depth, we’ve developed it and it’s going to be fun.”

The Rattlers will be back on the diamond beginning Thursday when the team takes part in the in the Austin ISD Tournament.