Box Score FORT SMITH, Ark. – The 11^th-ranked St. Edward's baseball team swept both games of a doubleheader against UA Fort Smith Friday afternoon at Crowder Field. The two wins kept the Hilltoppers atop the Heartland Conference standings.
 
In the first game, Hilltopper starting pitcher BRANNON EASTERLING had things rolling early. The righty struck out the first four batters he faced and six of the first 10 in three innings on the mound.
 
St. Edward's (25-10, 12-5 HC) got on the board in the third inning when GABLE WHITACRE laid down a squeeze bunt to score MILES WRIGHT with the first run of the game. WES KOENIG would single to left field to score CUTTER RUNTE as the Hilltoppers took a 2-0 lead.
 
The Hilltoppers would bust the game open in the fifth inning, plating three runs. RYAN DOLEZAL led off with a single and advanced to second on an error. Runte singled to right to score Dolezal. After a sacrifice bunt and a single by Koenig put runners at first and third. RANSOM LALONDE and KEVIN MAYO followed with RBI-singles to make it 5-0.
 
Easterling (6-4) was locked in the rest of the game as he finished off the Lions for his 10^th-straight complete game and third shutout of the season. He allowed just three hits, while walking one and striking out a season-high 11 batters in 7.0 innings. He upped his scoreless inning streak to 14.0 innings and lowered his team leading ERA to 0.88.
 
In game two, Runte got the scoring started for the Hilltoppers in the third inning. After CHRIS KILLEEN led off with a double and Dolezal reached on a one-out hit-by-pitch, Runte ripped a triple down the right field line to plate both runners for a 2-0 lead. Whitacre followed with a sacrifice fly to score Runte and make it 3-0.
 
St. Edward's made it 4-0 in the fourth inning after LaLonde led off with a single up the middle. He advanced to second on a sacrifice and scored on a single by Mayo. Koenig pushed across another run in the fifth inning with an RBI-double to make it 5-0.
 
After UA Fort Smith (15-17, 8-9 HC) got its first run of the game in the bottom of the fifth, St. Edward's busted the game wide open with two more runs in the sixth inning. Runte drew a bases-loaded walk to score the first run and Whitacre picked up his second sacrifice fly of game two to make it, 7-0.
 
Wright made it 8-1 with an RBI-triple in the seventh and he would come in to score on an RBI-single by Dolezal, to put St. Edward's up, 9-1.
 
The Lions would make a game of it, scoring five runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, but St. Edward's cut off the rally and added two runs in the top-of the ninth inning for the final 11-6 margin.
 
COLLIN SHERROD (7-0) picked up the victory, allowing just one run on six hits, while walking two and striking out four in 7.0 innings of work.
 
Killeen had a solid game at the plate, going 4-for-4 with three runs scored. Runte paced the offense driving in three runs on a 2-for-3 outing, while Wright produced two RBI on a 2-for-3 game at the plate.
 
The two teams will square off in the final game of the series Saturday. First pitch 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                           12-5                         25-10
St. Mary's                                11-5                         24-11
UA Fort Smith                         8-9                           15-17
UT-Permian Basin                 8-8                           17-17
Newman                                  7-9                           14-15
TAMU-International               4-12                         12-22
Panhandle State                    2-15                         11-25
 
*Lubbock Christian               16-3                          24-9
*Oklahoma Christian            13-6                          20-10
*McMurry                                 8-10                         14-19
*Rogers State                         6-13                         13-17
* - 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