Box Score HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – The St. Edward's softball team was on its way to an opening day sweep at the 2014 Charger Chill Out, but a seventh inning three-run homer disappointed the Hilltoppers and gave them a split. St. Edward's defeated Southern Indiana in the opener, 3-1, but fell to West Georgia in the final game of the day, 6-4 at the Metro Kiwanis Sportsplex.
 
In the first game of the day against Southern Indiana, St. Edward's got on the board first in the second inning. FAITH ROBERTS laced a two-out double down the right field line. That brought up CAITIE CARNEY, who launched a, 0-1 pitch over the fence in left centerfield. This was Carney first hit as a Hilltopper and it gave the team a 2-0 lead.
 
Southern Indiana (1-1) got a run back in the bottom of the second inning on a two-out double by Kyla Gogel.
 
Hilltopper starting pitcher KATELYN KLUG took it from there, allowing just three hits through the first six innings. St. Edward's would add an insurance run in the fourth inning. Roberts singled to right field to lead off the inning. After BREAH WHITTEN replaced her as a pinch runner, Whitten would advance to second base on a sacrifice bunt from Carney. With two outs, EMILY MAYFIELD came up with the big hit. The rightfielder laced a single to her counterpart in right field to plate Whitten and make it, 3-1.
 
Klug improved to 3-0 on the season with the victory, allowing just one run on four hits, while walking one and striking out four batters in her complete game. Klug now possesses a 0.91 earned-run average.
 
In the second game of the day, St. Edward's didn't waste any time. With two outs in the bottom of the first inning, KENDALL LUCAS reached first on an infield single. After a walk to LAUREN BRODE put two runners on, Roberts continued her hot streak with a home run to left centerfield to make it 3-0 in favor the Hilltoppers.
 
St. Edward's added a run in the second inning when CYDNEY ERVIN tripled with one out. She would come in to score on a bunt single by EMILY MAYFIELD to make it 4-0.
 
West Georgia (2-0) would cut into the Hilltopper lead in the top of the fourth inning with three runs on three hits, but that included three Hilltopper errors. Hilltopper starting pitcher SARAH DEBROW buckled down and struck out Jenna Hanson with the bases loaded.
 
The Wolves would strike late in the top of the seventh. With two outs and runners on second and third, Nicole Yancey launched a three-run homer down the line in left field to make it 6-4.
 
In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Hilltoppers got the leadoff batter on base but could not capitalize, as they would fall, 6-4.
 
Debrow (1-3) suffered the loss, allowing six runs (three earned) on six hits, while striking out four batters.
 
"Offensively, we are doing a good job of getting runners on," head coach Lindsay Gardner said. "We just need to do a better job of getting those runners in."
 
St. Edward's will be back in action Saturday for day two of the tourney at the Metro Kiwanis Sportsplex. St. Edward's will open the day against #9 Alabama-Huntsville at noon and finish up with Delta State at 4 p.m. Both games will have live stats on the opposing team's website. Check the Hilltopper website for links to each.