In a thrilling conclusion to the final home game of the regular season, San Marcos defeated Hays County rival Buda Johnson on a walk-off single from Jyuan Alonso in the bottom of the eighth inning to win 4-3.
San Marcos closes out the regular season with a 21-7-1 overall record and a 9-3 district record, taking second place in District 29.
The Rattlers scored first in the bottom of the first inning. After loading up the bases, senior third baseman Mason Gamboa was hit by the pitch, earning the RBI the hard way and giving the Rattlers a 1-0 lead.
Buda Johnson came roaring back in the top of the second inning. With runners on first and second, the Jaguars hit an RBI double, tying the game at 1-1 and putting runners on second and third.
After junior right fielder Landon Munoz made the throw home to junior catcher Colson Geesee to prevent a run from coming across for the out, Buda Johnson took advantage of a Rattlers’ fielding error, scoring another run and taking the lead at 2-1.
The Jaguars extended their lead to 3-1 after scoring on a bunt squeeze.
Unfazed by the three-run inning, the Rattlers made their comeback.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Rattlers put runners on second and third with one out after a hit by pitch from Gamboa and a double from first baseman Cole Wiatrek.
San Marcos scratched one run across when Nate Blanda laid down the sacrifice bunt to score Gamboa at third, making it a one-score game at 3-2.
Later in the bottom of the fifth inning, the Rattlers tied the game. After sophomore Elijah Ramirez reached second on a Buda Johnson fielding error before being moved over to third on a sacrifice bunt by Juan Munos, sophomore outfielder Jack Vasquez connected with an RBI single into center field, tying the game at 3-3.
Both the Jaguars and the Rattlers were unable to score anymore at the end of the seventh inning, sending the game into extras.
After the Rattlers sat the Jaguars down in order in the top of the eighth, the San Marcos offense got to work.
Munoz started the Rattlers’ at-bat with a leadoff double before Ronaldo Mendez-Soto moved him over to third base while reaching first safely on the bunt.
After the strikeout, the Jaguars opted to intentionally walk Wiatrek to bring Alonso to the plate.
However, Alonso made Buda Johnson pay. Facing a 3-1 count, Alonso scored the game winning run on the RBI single, bringing Munoz home and sealing the win for the Rattlers at 4-3.
The Rattlers will host El Campo this Saturday for their playoff warm-up game. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.
