Box Score VICTORIA, Texas – The 11^th-ranked St. Edward's baseball team started strong but couldn't finish the deal as they fell to Houston-Victoria, 7-5, Wednesday evening at Riverside Stadium.
 
St. Edward's (23-10) started strong with four runs in the first inning. CUTTER RUNTE and WES KOENIG both reached base with a walk. With one out, thirdbaseman DYLAN WATTS ripped the first pitch he saw over the left field fence for a three-run homer. After KEVIN MAYO reached on an error and CHRIS KILLEEN was hit by a pitch, secondbaseman MIKE DAVIS laced a two-out single to score Mayo and make it 4-0.
 
UH-Victoria (15-21) would get two runs back in the bottom of the first on a bases-loaded walk and a groundout to make it, 4-2.
 
The Hilltopper offense would go cold after that as they could only scratch out one hit over the next five innings. The Jaguars got another run back in the fourth inning, but took the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. Dylan Blaha would single home a run and then they got a gift with a Hilltopper throwing error with two outs to plate two more runs. That gave the home team a 6-4 advantage.
 
St. Edward's got a run back in the seventh inning when RYAN DOLEZAL lined a shot down the left field line for a two-out home run and cut the lead to 6-5.
 
UH-Victoria answered the run with a run of its own in the bottom of the seventh for the final margin, 7-5.
 
KYLE SEITHEL (1-1) was the hard-luck loser, allowing three runs (one earned) on five hits, while striking out two in 2.0 innings of work.
 
Dolezal led the Hilltoppers at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI.
 
The Hilltoppers will be back in action Friday when they travel to take on Heartland Conference-rival UA Fort Smith for a three-game series. First-pitch for Friday's doubleheader is set for 1 p.m. at Crowder Field. Live video and stats will be available on the Lion Athletic Website.
 
Heartland Conference Standings
Team                                         Conference          Overall
St. Edward's                          10-5                          23-10
St. Mary's                                10-5                         23-11
UA Fort Smith                         8-7                           15-15
UT-Permian Basin                 8-7                           17-16
Newman                                  7-8                           14-14
TAMU-International               4-11                         12-21
Panhandle State                    2-15                         11-25
 
*Lubbock Christian               15-3                         23-9
*Oklahoma Christian            12-6                         19-10
*McMurry                                 7-10                         13-19
*Rogers State                         6-12                         13-16
* - Not eligible for conference title.
 
Upcoming Schedule
April 4-5
St. Edward's at UA Fort Smith
UT-Permian Basin at St. Mary's
Newman at Oklahoma Christian
Lubbock Christian at Rogers State
TAMU-International at McMurry
 
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