THE RATTLERS LOST TO THE PACKERS IN THE ELEVENTH INNING, 5-4 The Rattlers pitching struck out eleven batters in the game San Luis Obispo, CA (July 23, 2010) – Every time the Santa Maria Valley Packers scored, the SLO Rattlers came back and scored. In the eleventh inning, the Rattlers could not tie the game or take the lead and fell to the Packers 5-4. This is the second extra inning game this summer for the Rattlers. They lost the first one to the Conejo Oaks in ten innings. Gabriel Loweree went 2-for-4 with a walk, double, and a run. Scott Phillion went 2-for-5 with a RBI. Mitchell Prophet went 2-for-3 with a RBI, walk, and a run. Mike Massari (University of Redlands) got the start for the Rattlers and pitched four innings. He gave up eight hits, three earned runs, one walk, and three strikeouts. The Santa Maria Valley Packers scored one run off of two hits in the top of the first inning. They took a 1-0 lead.
Michael Nielebeck pitched three shutout innings striking out three
Robert Vickers (Santa Barbara City College) singled up the middle with two out in the bottom of the first inning. Then Joe Etcheverry (Northern Illinois University) walked to put runners at first and second. Mitchell Prophet (Cuesta College) singled to right center scoring Robert Vickers. The Rattlers tied the game at 1-1. Gabriel Loweree (Ave Maria University) doubled to left center with one out in the bottom of the second inning. Chris Lauritzen (Santa Barbara City College) singled putting runners at first and third. Davey Schultz (Cuesta College) reached on a fielder’s choice scoring Gabriel Loweree. The Rattlers took a 2-1 lead. The Packers had runners at second and third with no one out in the top of the third, but the Rattlers got out of the inning with a fielder’s choice out at home, strikeout, and groundout.
The Packers scored two runs off of four hits and one error in the top of the fourth inning. The Rattlers turned a double play in the inning for the first two outs. The Packers led 3-2. Scott Phillion (Central Michigan University) singled to left center with two out in the fourth inning. Gabriel Loweree singled to right field. Chris Lauritzen was hit by a pitch to load the bases. The Rattlers were not able to score a run in the inning. Michael Nielebeck (Cuesta College) came in the fifth inning and pitched three shutout innings. He gave up two hits and struck out three. Bobby Buckner (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi) bunt singled to start off the bottom of the fifth, but a double play did not help the Rattlers. Mitchell Prophet walked to start off the bottom of the sixth inning. He moved to second on a passed ball. Matt Anderson (Cuesta College) reached on an error putting runners at second and third. Scott Phillion singled to center field scoring Mitchell Prophet and put runners at first and third. The Rattlers could not score another run in the inning. That tied the score at 3-3. Trevor Elswick (College of the Canyons) pitched the eighth inning. He gave up three hits, one earned run, and struck out two. The Packers scored one run in the eighth inning; it was a home run. They led 4-3. Mitchell Prophet singled to center field to start off the bottom of the eighth inning. The Rattlers fastest runner Nigel Morton (Southwest Baptist) came in to pinch run for Mitchell Prophet. Matt Anderson doubled to right field putting runners at second and third. Gabriel Loweree was intentionally walked with one out to load the bases. It is the fourth time this summer a Rattlers player has been intentionally walked and the second time a Rattlers catcher has been intentionally walked. Chris Lauritzen grounded out scoring Nigel Morton. The Rattlers tied the game at 4-4. DJ Gunderson (Santa Barbara City College) pitched the ninth inning, gave up one hit, and struck out one. Chris Hoo (Francis HS/ Cal Poly SLO) came in to catch for the Rattlers. Jeff Johnson (Cal Poly SLO) pitched the tenth and eleventh innings. He gave up two hits, one earned run, and struck out two. The Packers scored the winning run in the top of the eleventh inning off of two hits. Series continues tomorrow July 24 in Santa Maria at 12 p.m. ### For more information please visit http://www.slorattlers.com or email Cherie Smith at csmith@slorattlers.com. The next series will be July 27-29 against the MLB Academy Barons in Compton. It will be a league series.