Box Score The Basics
-Score: St. Edward's 3, Texas A&M-International 2 (G1)(8); St. Edward's 8, TAMU-International 5 (G2)
-Records: St. Edward's 16-7, 12-5 HC; TAMU-International 16-9, 11-6 HC
-Location: Laredo, Texas (Uni-Trade Stadium)
 
Game 1
How It Happened
-The Hilltoppers got on the scoreboard first for the fifth-straight game as they pushed across a run in the first inning. TAYLOR JOHNSON led off with a double to left centerfield. After he stole third base, he came in to score on a fielder's choice by RANSOM LALONDE.
-TAMU-International tied the score in the bottom of the first when they strung together a double and single with one out.
-St. Edward's would go in front in the third inning when CJ MANNING came up with a huge two-out single through the left side to score BEAU ROGERS who had led off the inning with a single.
-The Dustdevils answered once again with a run in the bottom of the third inning to make the score, 2-2.
-Hilltopper starting pitcher BRANNON EASTERLING had a tough time with a potent Dustdevil attack all afternoon, and the home team loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth with one out. A strikeout and a fly out got the righty out of the jam.
-The game would go extra innings, and in the eighth inning, LaLonde reached on a one-out single. He stole second base, and Manning came through again with the game-winning single.
 
Beyond the Box Score
-Easterling scattered 11 hits in his fifth-straight complete-game victory. He has a strikeout to walk ratio of 24-to-2 during that time.
-Manning leads the team with 18 RBI and now has hits in four-straight games. He has 12 two-out RBI on the season.
 
Game 2
How It Happened
-Things did not start so well for the Hilltoppers in game two. They only had one hit through the first four innings and TAMU-International jumped out to a 4-0 lead.
-St. Edward's got a run back in the fifth inning when CJ MANNING led off the inning with a walk and came in to score on a RBI-groundout by JOE PIROZZOLO to cut the lead to 4-1.
-The Dustdevils got the run back in the bottom of the fifth inning and that set the stage for the seventh inning.
-Trailing 5-1 in their last at-bat, the Hilltoppers rattled off six-straight hits to begin the inning. Pirozzolo had a two-RBI single, Rogers laced a two-RBI double, CUTTER RUNTE singled home a run, and CJ MANNING added a RBI-single as the Hilltoppers scored seven runs on eight hits to take an 8-5 advantage.
-AJ RATAIC came on in the bottom of the seventh to set the Dustdevils down in order and pick up his fourth save of the year.
 
Beyond the Box Score
-The second game was scheduled for nine innings but by conference rule, since the first game of the doubleheader went extra innings, the second game became a seven-inning contest.
-BEAU ROGERS extended his hitting streak to seven games today. During his streak, Rogers has raised his average from .235 to .328.
-The Hilltoppers now have double-digit hits in five-straight games and have raised their average from .273 to .289.
-In the last four games, St. Edward's has been money when they have a runner at third and less than two outs. They have gone 13-of-18 during that time.
-With the two victories, the Hilltoppers have moved into second place in the conference standings, just a half game behind St. Mary's. A victory tomorrow would put them into a tie with the Rattlers, as St. Mary's is playing a non-conference series against McMurry this weekend.
-St. Edward's now holds a 31-8 record over the Dustdevils in the all-time series. They have also won 11 of the last 12 games.
 
2013 Heartland Conference Baseball Standings
Team                           Conference             Overall
#21 St. Mary's                   13-5                      16-7
St. Edward's                       12-5                      16-7
UA Fort Smith                    11-6                      12-7
#18 TAMU-International 11-6                      16-9
Newman                              9-8                       11-9
UT-Permian Basin             4-13                      6-15
Panhandle State                0-17                      0-22
Oklahoma Christian           0-0                       11-7
McMurry                             0-0                       9-14
 
Between the Chalk with Coach Rob Penders
Coach Penders on his team's play today:
“It was great to get two wins against the first-place team in the conference on the road. Both games were obviously hard fought affairs and we persevered through a lot of adversity. Hopefully we can come out tomorrow and have the same result.”
 
Up Next
St. Edward's and TAMU-International will battle in the final game of the three-game series on Saturday at 1 p.m. Live video and stats will be available on the Dustdevil Athletic Website.