UAFS (15-12, 2-4) split its series-opening doubleheader against St. Mary's (21-12, 3-3), winning the opening game 2-0 before losing the second game 7-6 on Friday night. It was the Lions' fifth series win in six opportunities this season, and their first conference series win.

The Lions trailed 6-3 going into the top of the seventh inning before breaking the game open for good, scoring seven runs off three different Rattlers relievers to seize the lead.

Third baseman Brooks Sunny sparked the rally with a leadoff double, and one out later, right fielder Logan Allen ripped a RBI triple. What followed was a string of four RBI doubles by catcher Dylan Hurt, first baseman Kyle Love, center fielder Tyler Young and designated hitter Tremarcus Koontz.

Pinch hitter Logan Easley capped off what turned into a 10-batter inning for the Lions with a two-out, two-run home run to left field.

That was all the run support the Lions needed. St. Mary's added a solo run in the bottom of the ninth inning on a two-out, pinch-hit, solo home run by Mitchell Caskey but Lions reliever Foster Pace got left fielder Ryan McGowen to fly out to left field to end the game.

Pace (2-2), who was the last of four UAFS pitchers, earned the win, allowing one run on three hits with one strikeout over 3 1/3 innings.

St. Mary's collected a total of 13 hits, including six for extra bases. Second baseman Johnny Hernandez was 5 for 5 with a double and two RBIs. Designated hitter Patrick Fennell was 2 for 4 with a double and one RBI, shortstop Mario Vela was 2 for 5 with a double, right fielder Andrew Perez was 1 for 3 with a home run and one RBI, Caskey was 1 for 1 with a home run and one RBI and catcher Colton Parrish was 1 for 4 with a double.

Rattlers reliever Johnny Panatex (1-2), who was the third of four St. Mary's pitchers, suffered the loss, allowing three runs on three hits without recording an out.

UAFS had a combined 11 hits, including nine extra-base hits. Allen was 2 for 5 with a triple, a home run and two RBIs, Koontz was 2 for 2 with a double, a home run and two RBIs, Easley was 1 for 1 with a home run and two RBIs, Hurt was 2 for 5 with a double and one RBI, Love was 2 for 5 with a double and one RBI, Young was 1 for 4 with a double and two RBI and Sunny was 1 for 3 with a double.

The top of the Lions' order – Nos. 1-5 – was a combined 9 for 21 (0.429) with eight RBIs, five doubles, one triple and two home runs.
 
UAFS 10, ST. MARY'S 7   
UAFS                          010      002      700      --          10        11        5
St. Mary's                   102      210      001      --          7          13        0
McGlynn, Horn (4), Lindley (6), Pace (6) and Hurt; Koehler, Sepulveda (7), Panatex (7), Merrill (7) and Parrish. W – Pace, 2-2. L – Panatex, 1-2. HRs – UAFS, Allen (2), Koontz (3), Easley (3); St. Mary's, A. Perez (2), Caskey (2).