Box Score GOODWELL, Okla. – The #9 St. Edward's baseball team increased its lead in the Heartland Conference standings to two games following a sweep of Panhandle State, Friday afternoon at Aggie Field. The Hilltoppers took both ends of the double dip, 6-2 and 5-1. With the sweep and St. Mary's splitting its doubleheader at Newman, the Hilltopper lead increased a game.
 
In game one, Panhandle State (11-30, 2-20 HC) got on the board first with a run in the first inning. St. Edward's (30-11, 17-6 HC) answered with two runs in the top of the second inning. MILES WRIGHT would pick up an RBI during the inning with a squeeze bunt to score DYLAN WATTS. The Aggies would commit two errors as well.
 
The Hilltoppers added three runs in the fifth inning to make it 5-1. KEVIN MAYO drove in a run on a fielder's choice and CHRIS KILLEEN knocked in two more with a two-RBI single.
 
Mayo drove in another run in the seventh inning to make it 6-1, while Panhandle State plated a run in the bottom of the seventh for the final 6-2 margin.
 
BRANNON EASTERLING (8-4) picked up his fifth-straight win on the mound as he tossed his 12^th-complete game in a row to open the season. The righty allowed two runs on six hits, while walking five and striking out six batters in 7.0 innings of work.
 
In game two, it was the Hilltoppers who struck first. After reaching with a one-out single Killeen advanced to second after a pitch hit Wright. The duo each moved up a base on a double steal. C.J. Manning plated Killeen on a groundout to make it 1-0.
 
Panhandle State knotted the score in the third inning, but it was all Hilltoppers after that. St. Edward's scored the final four runs of the game and Hilltopper starting pitcher COLLIN SHERROD was brilliant. CUTTER RUNTE would double in a run in the fifth inning and also doubled in two more in the seventh. RANSOM LALONDE drove in the final run of the game in the seventh inning.
 
Sherrod improved to 8-0 on the year after allowing just one run on seven hits, while walking one and striking out nine in his longest outing of the season at 9.0 innings.
 
Watts led the offense, going 3-for-6 with three runs scored in the doubleheader. Runte chipped in with three RBI on the day.
 
The two teams will meet for the third and final game of the series on Saturday.  First-pitch is set for 12 p.m. at Aggie Field. Live stats will be available on the Aggie Athletic Website.
 
Heartland Conference Standings
Team                                                       Conference          Overall
#9 St. Edward's                                     17-6                         30-11
#15 St. Mary's                                        15-8                         29-14
Newman                                                 12-11                      19-20
UT-Permian Basin                                10-13                      19-23
UA Fort Smith                                         8-13                         16-21
TAMU-International                               6-16                         14-28
Panhandle State                                    2-19                         11-29
 
*#17 Lubbock Christian                        22-3                         31-9
*Oklahoma Christian                             13-9                         25-13
*McMurry                                                  11-12                      19-22
*Rogers State                                          9-16                         16-23
* - Not eligible for conference title.
 
Remaining Conference Schedule
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