SAN ANTONIO (Feb. 11, 2017) – The Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) Saints baseball team dropped three games in a four-game series against the Sterling College Warriors.

The Saints fall to 5-7 on the season, dropping the first, second and fourth games of the series. The Warriors improve to 7-1.

OLLU experienced what Head Coach Jeremy Flores called a reality check, facing one of the top offenses in the country. The Warriors previously swept a four-game series against Wayland Baptist University, which was ranked No. 20 in the 2017 NAIA Baseball Coaches' Top 25 Preseason Poll.

After a rough first game in which the Saints' defense gave up 20 runs, OLLU was much more competitive in the remaining three games, but struggled to string together enough timely hits to take more than one win.

Game 1

The Saints lost the first game 5-20, giving up 14 hits and committing five errors behind starting pitcher Jordan Hackett (JR/San Antonio, Texas).

OLLU surrendered seven runs on five hits and two errors in the first inning with Sterling's Eric Skogseth putting the first runs on the board with a two-RBI double to left-center field. The Warriors had another big inning in the fifth, scoring six runs, and got a three-run home run from Devin MacGregor in the sixth inning. They scored one run each in every other inning.

The Saints managed two runs in the first inning after starting pitcher Tyler Charlo loaded the bases on three walks, getting an RBI single from Orlando Collado (SR/Bronx, N.Y.) and another run after Connor Kalisky (SR/San Antonio, Texas) reached first on another walk with bases loaded.

Jacob Pool (SO/Leander, Texas) scored on an RBI from Jose Diaz (FR/Pinar del Rio, Cuba), who reached first on a fielder's choice. The Saints picked up two more runs in the seventh inning.

Collado led the Saints' offense, batting 4-for-4 with two RBIs. Hackett gave up 10 runs, six of which were earned, in four innings, picking up the loss.

Game 2

The second game of the first night was much more of a pitcher's duel, with Caleb Mireles (JR/Del Rio, Texas) going 6.1 innings, giving up three runs on four hits with three strikeouts in the 1-3 loss.

OLLU struck first with Darius Patton (SR/San Antonio, Texas) scoring on an RBI from Jacob Pool. But the Saints left nine baserunners stranded for the game, putting together only five hits while committing the lone error of the game.

Sterling tied the game in the fourth inning on an RBI double from Skogseth after Kyle Ulanday reached on a walk. The Warriors took the lead with two runs in the seventh inning on a walk and a fielder's choice after Sterling loaded the bases to start the inning.

Miceal Taylor took the mound to start the bottom of the seventh inning, retiring all three batters he faced to preserve the win.

Game 3

The Saints' bats came alive in the first game of the second day while getting a solid performance from starting pitcher JB Martinez (SO/San Antonio, Texas), earning a 6-3 win.

OLLU managed one run in the second inning, two in the third inning and three runs in the fourth, putting together eight hits for the game.

Diaz scored the Saints' first run on an RBI single from Ryan Ramsey (SO/Grapevine, Texas) up the middle. Enrique Ruiz III (JR/Helotes, Texas) led off the third inning with a single and advanced to third base after a sacrifice bunt from Matt Beasley (SR/Burleson, Texas), followed by a sacrifice fly to center from Connor Kalisky; then scoring when Seth Garcia (JR/San Antonio, Texas) reached first on an error. Matt Mihalov (SO/Houston, Texas), pinch running for Garcia, then scored on a single from Collado.

The Saints' offense kicked off the fourth inning by picking up two outs, but scored on an error with bases loaded and then got a two-RBI single from Collado.

Collado finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Martinez went four innings, giving up two hits and two earned runs while striking out two to pick up the win. Chase Smith (SR/La Porte, Texas) earned the save, pitching three innings, giving up four hits and one unearned run.

Game 4

The Saints staged a furious rally in the bottom of the seventh, scoring four runs in the inning but falling short 5-6.

For the game, the Saints had four hits and committed four errors. The Warriors scored their six runs on eight hits and committed two errors.

Brandon Cogbill (SR/Lake Dallas, Texas) got the start, pitching six innings, giving up five runs (two earned) and striking out six while picking up the loss.

Miguel Reyes hit a home run off Cogbill in the third inning to give the Warriors a 2-0 lead before the Saints' defense gave up three runs in the fifth. Sterling College managed three runs in the fifth inning off two hits and two OLLU errors.

OLLU scored its first run in the sixth inning on an RBI single from Kalisky, then scored four more in the seventh. Collado singled after Xavier Solis (FR/Victoria, Texas) was hit by a pitch to put a runner in scoring position. After Russell Brown (JR/San Antonio, Texas) was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Solis and Collado scored on an error. Brown later scored on a walk with bases loaded, and Patton scored the final OLLU run when Diaz was hit by a pitch before Solis grounded out to the short stop.

Next week, the Saints will host Saint Gregory's University for a three-game series from Feb. 17-18. Both teams played each other for the first time last season, with OLLU winning two of the three games. 

Our Lady of the Lake University is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2016-2017 as a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. The University began competing in the NAIA in men's soccer and volleyball in 2007. A year later, they added women's soccer, golf and tennis. In 2009, the Saints began competing in cross-country, softball and basketball. In 2014, OLLU added two more sports — baseball and track and field. There are now 13 intercollegiate athletic teams at OLLU. All athletic alumni and up to two family members will receive free admission to basketball and volleyball games throughout the season. Baseball is not included in this special offer. All other home games are free and open to the public.