Box Score AUSTIN, Texas – In a matchup of nationally-ranked teams and Heartland Conference co-leaders, #11 St. Edward's and #13 St. Mary's split a doubleheader Friday afternoon at Lucian-Hamilton Field. The Hilltoppers pounded out 20 hits en route to a 15-4 shellacking of the Rattlers in game one. Game two saw St. Mary's comeback from a 3-0 deficit to win 5-3. The split keeps the two teams tied for the lead in conference play.
 
In game one, St. Edward's (27-11, 14-6 HC) raced out to a 6-0 lead after the first two innings. CUTTER RUNTE led off the first inning with his first career home run off of the net in right field. GABLE WHITACRE reached on an error and eventually came in to score the second run on a sacrifice fly from RANSOM LALONDE. In the second inning, the Hilltoppers plated four runs. Runte was at it again as he singled home two runs. WES KOENIG added two more RBI on a single through the right side.
 
St. Mary's (27-12, 14-6 HC) got two runs back in the top of the third inning, but St. Edward's answered with three runs in fourth inning. Runte was the catalyst once again as he led off the inning with a double to left centerfield. With one out, Koenig picked up RBIs three and four with his sixth home run of the year. KEVIN MAYO drove in third run of the inning with a two-out single. That made it 9-2.
 
St. Edward's put the game out of reach in the sixth inning when they plated six runs. Mayo and CHRIS KILLEEN picked up RBIs, while MILES WRIGHT had a two-RBI single. C.J. Manning picked up a pinch-hit RBI and Koenig notched his fifth RBI of the game.
 
BRANNON EASTERLING (7-4) tallied the victory allowing four runs (two earned) on seven hits, while striking out eight in his 11^th complete game of the year.
 
Koenig was 3-for-5 with five RBI, while Killeen was a perfect 4-for-4. Runte ended game one, going 3-for-4 with three RBI and three runs scored.
 
In game two, St. Edward's started hot once again, scoring three runs in the first inning. Runte and Whitacre both singled to lead off the inning. A single by Koenig plated Runte and then later in the inning, back-to-back sacrifice flies by DYLAN WATTS and Mayo made it 3-0.
 
Hilltopper starting pitcher COLLIN SHERROD and St. Mary's starter Rene Solis settled down over the next four innings to keep the score at 3-0. Solis allowed at least one baserunner each inning but St. Edward's could not find a way to get its runners in. Sherrod did not allow a hit through the first five innings.
 
In the sixth inning, Keith Funk got the first hit for the Rattlers as he led off with a double to the gap in left center. After loading the bases, St. Mary's chased Sherrod from the game. On a 1-0 pitch from reliever Kyle Siethel, Drake Roberts launched his first home run of the season for a grand slam. That gave the Rattlers a 4-3 advantage.
 
St. Mary's picked up an insurance run in the eighth inning to make it 5-3, and the Hilltoppers could not muster a comeback.
 
St. Edward's outhit the Rattlers, 7-4, but the Rattlers hung in the game and got the big hit when they needed it.
 
Seithel (1-2) suffered the loss for St. Edward's and Solis (8-2) picked up the win. The lefty for the Rattlers got the complete-game victory allowing three runs on seven hits, while walking three and striking out five.
 
The two teams will meet for the third and final game of the season on Saturday.  First-pitch is set for 1 p.m. at Lucian-Hamilton Field. Live video and stats will be available on the Hilltopper Athletic Website.
 
Heartland Conference Standings
Team                                     Conference           Overall
#11 St. Edward's                14-6                         27-11
#13 St. Mary's                     14-6                         27-12
Newman                               10-10                      17-17
UA Fort Smith                       8-12                        16-20
UT-Permian Basin               8-12                        17-21
TAMU-International             6-14                        14-25
Panhandle State                  2-16                        11-26
 
*Lubbock Christian             20-3                         29-9
*Oklahoma Christian          13-8                         21-12
*McMurry                              11-11                       18-21
*Rogers State                       8-15                        15-21
* - Not eligible for conference title.
 
Remaining Conference Schedule
April 11-12
St. Mary's at St. Edward's
Newman at TAMU-International
UA Fort Smith at Lubbock Christian
McMurry at UT-Permian Basin
Panhandle State at Rogers State
Oklahoma Christian-Non-Conference
 
April 17-19
St. Edward's at Panhandle State
St. Mary's at Newman
TAMU-International at UA Fort Smith
Lubbock Christian at Oklahoma Christian
Rogers State at UT-Permian Basin
McMurry-Non-Conference
 
April 25-26
Rogers State at St. Edward's
Oklahoma Christian at St. Mary's
UT-Permian Basin at TAMU-International
UA Fort Smith at McMurry
Newman at Panhandle State
Lubbock Christian-Non-Conference
 
May 2-3
McMurry at St. Edward's
TAMU-International at St. Mary's
Oklahoma Christian at Panhandle State
UA Fort Smith at Newman
UT-Permian Basin at Lubbock Christian
Rogers State-Non-Conference