Box Score FORT SMITH, Ark. - Landon Patterson scattered nine hits as he rebounded from his only loss of the season last week to lead St. Edward's to a 5-1 victory over Arkansas-Fort Smith in the deciding game of their three-game series at Crowder Field.
St. Edward's (16-10) jumped out early in the first inning pushing across two runs. Colin Elmore (Junior, Dallas, Texas) led off the inning with a double to the gap in left center. After a foul out by Paul McCoy (Senior, Killen, Texas), Adam Shank (Junior, Sugar Land, Texas) doubled to leftfield to drive in Elmore. After Taylor Johnson (Sophomore, Dripping Springs, Texas) reached on a botched sacrifice bunt attempt by the pitcher, Daniel Homann (Freshman, The Woodlands, Texas) drove in Shank from third on a sacrifice fly.
Arkansas-Fort Smith (11-13) got one run back in the bottom of the first inning when the first two runners reached base off of Patterson (Senior, Leander, Texas). After a caught stealing, Christian Allen singled and Jordan May brought a run in on a groundout to shortstop to cut the lead in half, 2-1.
Both pitchers would keep the offenses in check until the seventh inning when St. Edward's struck again. With two out, Dylan Schuch (Senior, Austin, Texas) reached on a single to centerfield. He stole second and came in to score on a single by Elmore. After Elmore swiped second, he scored on a single by McCoy to increase the Hilltopper lead to 4-1.
St. Edward's rallied with two outs again in the eighth inning when Rylan Patel (Freshman, Colleyville, Texas) walked and then advanced to third on a failed pickoff attempt by Lion pitcher Adam Cvengros. Will McCaleb (Junior, Houston, Texas) singled to bring home Patel for the final run, 5-1.
Patterson was masterful as he allowed one run, while walking one, and striking out six batters in 8.0 innings of work. Brian Shorkey (Junior, Pearland, Texas) came in to pitch a scoreless ninth to preserve the series victory for St. Edward's.
Elmore led the Hilltoppers at the plate as he went 3-for-5 with two runs scored while driving in one.
St. Edward's will be back in action Friday when they travel to take on Heartland Conference rival Newman. The doubleheader will begin at 1 p.m. in Wichita, Kan.
