If it wasn’t been one thing that plagued the UAFS baseball team during its three-game series against No. 11 St. Mary’s this weekend, it was another.
            Two rough innings cost the Diamond Lions a possible doubleheader sweep of the Rattlers on Friday, and errors ruined their chances of salvaging at least one win in the series on Saturday at Wolff Stadium in San Antonio, Texas.
            UAFS committed a season-high six errors that led to five unearned runs as the Rattlers swept the Heartland Conference series with a 6-4 win. It was the fourth consecutive loss for the Diamond Lions (1-4, 1-4), who lost the first two games of the series 3-1 and 2-1, respectively.
            The Diamond Lions led 4-2 before suffering their uncharacteristic defensive collapse in the seventh inning.
            The Rattlers (6-1, 6-0) scored four runs on two hits – a double by shortstop Esteban Raygoza and a single by second baseman Ivan Sigala – and three errors that led to three unearned runs.
            It was a tumultuous turn of events for the Lions and closer Kyle Thompson. Thompson (0-1), who inherited a two-run lead after relieving starter Sam Meloy to start the sixth inning, pitched a scoreless final two frames, but suffered the loss, allowing just one earned run on three hits and striking out three.
            Meloy, who pitched a gem in the Diamond Lions’ season-opening 6-0 win against St. Edward’s on Monday, gave up two first-inning runs – both unearned – scattered four hits and struck out three over five innings.
            No Rattler had multiple hits. First baseman Tyler Migl was 1-for-4 with a double and one RBI, designated hitter Brandon Bates was 1-for-4 with a double and one RBI, third baseman Jeremy Narvaez was 1-for-3 with a double and Raygoza was 1-for-3 with a double.
            UAFS touched St. Mary’s starter Skye Severns for four earned runs on six hits. Severns walked two and struck out seven before giving way to the bullpen tandem of Matt McClain and Jonathan Perez.
            McClain (1-1), who earned the win, allowed no hits, walked one and struck out three in two innings, and Perez earned his fifth save in as many opportunities, striking out one in a scoreless ninth inning.
            First baseman Gordon Miller was 2-for-3 with a double and one RBI, designated hitter Christian Allen was 2-for-4 with one RBI and second baseman Ryan Gros was 2-for-4 with one RBI for the Lions.
            UAFS will resume conference play this weekend when it hosts Texas A&M International at Crowder Field. The series-opening doubleheader begins at 1 p.m. on Friday with the series finale slated for 1 p.m. on Saturday.
 
NO. 11 ST. MARY’S 6, UAFS 4
UAFS              000      013      000      --          4          6          6
St. Mary’s       200      000      40X     --           6          7          0
Meloy, Thompson (6) and Smith; Severns, McClain (7), Perez (9) and Cokinos. W – McClain, 1-1. L – Thompson, 0-1. Sv – Perez (5). HRs – None.