Box Score The Basics
-Score: St. Edward's 4, Incarnate Word 3
-Records: St. Edward's 18-7: Incarnate Word 15-8
-Location: Austin, Texas (Lucian-Hamilton Field)
 
How It Happened
-St. Edward's got on the board first with a run in the first inning. TAYLOR JOHNSON led off with a double to the gap in right center. This was his third time in the last four games to lead off the first with a hit. CUTTER RUNTE followed with a single up the middle to score Johnson.
-Incarnate Word tied the game up in the second inning when the Cardinals would push across an unearned run.
-The Hilltoppers responded with single runs in the third and fourth innings. In the third inning, Johnson took advantage of Cardinal starting pitcher Geno Encina's long windup to steal home for his second run of the game. In the fourth inning JOE PIROZZOLO reached on a two-out bunt single. MARSHALL BURFORD followed with a triple down the left field line to make it 3-0.
-Burford scored the final run of the game for the Hilltoppers in the sixth inning on his third home run of the season.
-The Hilltopper pitching staff held off a late Cardinal rally to take the game, 4-3.
-Freshman COLLIN SHERROD continues to impress, improving to 2-0 on the mound, by allowing one unearned run on four hits, while walking two and striking out six in 6.1 innings of work.
-AJ RATAIC came on to pick up his fifth save of the season.
 
Beyond the Box Score
-During the Hilltoppers eight-game winning streak, Johnson has been a tear, hitting safely in 7-of-8 games and pounding out a .516 (16-31) batting average, while scoring 10 runs from his leadoff spot.
-With Burford's two hits he increased his hitting streak to five games.
 
2013 Heartland Conference Baseball Standings
Team                           Conference             Overall
#21 St. Edward's               13-5                      18-7
#14 St. Mary's                   13-5                      17-8
UA Fort Smith                    12-6                      14-9
TAMU-International         11-7                    16-10
Newman                              9-9                      12-11
UT-Permian Basin             5-13                      7-15
Panhandle State                0-18                      0-21
McMurry                             0-0                      11-15
Oklahoma Christian           0-0                      15-10
 
Up Next
The Hilltoppers will be back in action Friday when they travel to take on Arkansas-Fort Smith. The doubleheader will begin at 1 p.m. at Crowder Field. Live stats will be available on the Lion Athletic Website. The two teams will wrap up the three-game series with a single game on Saturday at 1 p.m.