Box Score WARRENSBURG, Mo. – The St. Edward's baseball team could not keep its run going as it dropped its first game of the 2012 NCAA DII South Central Regional Saturday morning to long-time rival St. Mary's, 2-1. The Rattlers and Hilltoppers were playing each other for the seventh time this season and each team had one three games each. It was St. Mary's who took the first rubber match that featured two great pitchers and ended on a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth.

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It was a pitching duel through the first six innings as Jeff Rohrbach and Skye Severns had it going for their respective teams.

St. Edward's (37-14) finally got to Severns in the seventh inning when Beau Rogers drew a two-out walk and up stepped the hot-hitting Taylor Johnson. The secondbaseman ripped a ball off of the wall in the left-center gap and Rogers came in to score the first run of the game.

St. Mary's (46-8) would answer in the bottom of the eighth when Billy Richard singled up the middle to lead off the inning. He was retired on a fielder's choice by Derek Moczygemba. The Rattlers then executed a perfect hit-and-run that M.P. Cockinos singled and Moczygemba advanced to third. Rohrbach was lifted for Stephen Johnson. S. Johnson walked the first batter to load the bases. Esteban Raygoza was up next and he ripped a ground ball to Ransom LaLonde who made a fabulous stop and threw the ball to second for one, but T. Johnson's throw to first was short and the Rattlers scored the tying run. S. Johnson would strike out Tyler Migl to end the inning.

After the Hilltoppers went in order in the top of the ninth, the Rattlers got a leadoff double by Ivan Sigala. S. Johnson would strike out Josh McElroy and got Mario Maldanado to line out to right field. With two outs and two strikes, Richard came through for St. Mary's with a single in the hole on the right side to score the winning run.

“It was a hard-fought game between two teams that knew each other well,” head coach Rob Penders said. “We knew it was going to be battle and it was. Jeff pitched his heart out and so did their pitcher. It was one heck of a game to watch.”

Rohrbach was outstanding on the hill, allowing one run on eight hits, while walking two and striking out five in 7.1 innings of work. S. Johnson suffered the loss allowing one run on two hits, while walking one and striking out two in 1.1 innings of work.

Severns (9-0) picked up the complete-game victory, allowing one run on three hits, while walking two and striking out six.

St. Edward's will be back in Saturday evening at 7 p.m. when they take on the winner of the game between Southern Arkansas and Central Missouri. You can watch it live on the Central Missouri Athletic Website.