Box Score AUSTIN, Texas - The St. Edward's baseball team scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning for its second-straight come-from-behind victory, defeating Texas A&M-International, 11-8, Saturday afternoon at Lucian-Hamilton Field.
The victory gave the Hilltoppers the three-game sweep of the Dustdevils and the season series, 4-2. Texas A&M-International (19-31, 13-17 HC) opened the scoring in the first inning as they pushed across two runs. After Rey Alvarez grounded out to shortstop to lead off the inning, the Dustdevils strung four singles together to score the two runs.
St. Edward's (25-22, 19-11 HC) responded in a big way, scoring three runs in the second inning. Joe Pirozzolo (Sophomore, The Woodlands, Texas) led off the inning with a walk. Taylor Johnson (Sophomore, Dripping Springs, Texas) followed with a double to the gap in left field. Will McCaleb (Junior, Houston, Texas) drove in Pirozzolo with a sacrifice fly to left field. After a single by Mark Thomas (Junior, Moline, Ill.) put runners at the corner, Paul McCoy (Senior, Killeen, Texas) drove in Johnson with a bunt single.
Colin Elmore (Junior, Dallas, Texas) singled home the final run of the inning to put the Hilltoppers ahead, 3-2. In the third inning, the Hilltoppers started the inning off with three-straight singles by Daniel Homann (Freshman, The Woodlands, Texas), Pirozzolo, and Johnson to load the bases.
After a lineout by McCaleb, Thomas singled to center to drive in Homann. The Dustdevils optioned for a pitching change and McCoy greeted the new pitcher with a line drive, but it was caught and Thomas was doubled off at first to end the inning.
TAMU-International got a run back in the top of the fourth inning, but the Hilltoppers fought right back with two runs in the bottom of the inning. Adam Shank (Junior Sugar Land, Texas) had a sacrifice fly and Pirozzolo drove in a run on an infield single. The Dustdevils would not give up as they pushed across two runs in the fifth inning and three runs ion the seventh to take an 8-6 advantage.
St. Edward's got a run back in the seventh on a two-out Dustdevil error. That set the stage for the bottom of the eighth as the Hilltoppers sent eight men to the plate. Homann led off the inning with a double to the gap in right field and Pirozzolo followed with another infield single.
Johnson ripped a single back up the middle to tie the game. McCaleb then stepped up and got his second game-winning hit of the series as he singled down the left field line to plate Pirozzolo and put the Hilltoppers ahead, 9-8. St. Edward's would add two insurance runs for the final score.
Jeff Rohrbach (Junior, Houston, Texas) picked up a no-decision as he went 6.1 innings, allowing eight runs (seven earned) on 11 hits, while walking a season-high three batters and striking out one. Tyler Harris (Junior, Houston, Texas) got his first win of the season as he went the final 1.2 innings in relief, allowing just one hit and striking out two.
St. Edward's will be back in action Thursday for the Heartland Conference Tournament. They will open up play as the number two seed and take on #3-seeded UT-Permian Basin in the first round. First-pitch is set for 1 p.m. at V.J. Keefe Memorial Stadium. St. Mary's will be the host for this year's tournament and Free Live Video will be provided on its website. Check the Hilltopper Athletic Website for all of the information for this year's tournament.
