Box Score AUSTIN, Texas - Freshman Rylan Patel's single drove home Taylor Johnson from third base as St. Edward's scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth to take down #6 Southern Arkansas, 9-8, Sunday afternoon at Lucian-Hamilton Field.
St. Edward's (4-2) got on the board first in the second inning when Will McCaleb (Junior, Houston, Texas) laid down a perfect squeeze bunt to score Johnson from third base.
The Hilltoppers added two more runs in the third inning when Colin Elmore (Junior, Dallas, Texas) reached on a two-out double down the third-base line. He came around to score on an RBI-single by Adam Shank (Junior, Sugar Land, Texas). Wes Koenig (Sophomore, Austin, Texas) singled in Shank to put St. Edward's ahead, 3-0, after three innings.
Hilltopper starting pitcher Landon Patterson (Senior, Leander, Texas) did not allow a hit in the first three innings, but Southern Arkansas (5-2) sent nine men to plate in the fourth inning and scored four runs off of four hits to take a 4-3 lead.
The Hilltoppers took back the lead in the fifth inning when Johnson had an RBI-groundout and McCaleb picked up a two-out RBI-single to make the score, 5-4.
St. Edward's added a run in the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly by Shank to push the Hilltopper lead to 6-4 after six innings.
Again, the Muleriders responded in a big way, pounding out four runs on three hits in the seventh inning. The big blow was a three-run home run by Logan Williams to dead center.
Trailing 8-6, St. Edward's picked up a run in the seventh on a solo home run off the bat of McCaleb. That set the stage for the ninth.
Shank led off with a double to centerfield. Johnson followed next and reached base on a costly error by secondbaseman Adam Boucher. Koenig drove home pinch runner Max Minor (Junior, Austin, Texas) on a sacrifice fly to tie the game, 8-8. McCaleb singled to advance Johnson to second base and Johnson moved over to third base on a fly ball by Eric Morgan (Senior, Salt Lake City, Utah). Patel came to the plate and ripped a 0-1 fastball through the right side for the game-winner.
Patterson took the no-decision, allowing four runs on six hits, while walking five and striking out three. Brian Shorkey (Junior, Pearland, Texas) picked up the win in relief as he allowed just two hits and struck out one batter in a scoreless ninth inning.
McCaleb ended the day, going 3-for-4 with one run scored and three RBI. Both Shank and Koenig went 2-for-3 with two RBI apiece.
St. Edward's will be back in action Tuesday when they host #10 Abilene Christian. First pitch is set for 1:30 p.m. at Lucian-Hamilton Field. Last season, the Hilltoppers run-ruled the Wildcats in Austin, 18-3.
