Box Score SAN ANTONIO, Texas – SARAH DEBROW finished the Heartland Conference Championship Game against St. Mary's with five strikeouts, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Rattlers. St. Mary's defeated the Hilltoppers, 4-0 on Saturday afternoon at The Park at St. Mary's.
The game started as a defensive battle through the first two innings for both teams. Both squads only allowed one hit through the first six outs of the game. The Rattlers took the games first lead with two runs in the third inning on three hits.
The Hilltoppers responded with a hit in the third inning by
BREAH WHITTEN. She advanced to scoring position, but wouldn't go any further.
FAITH ROBERTS added another hit for St. Edward's in the fourth inning. Gabriella Macias pinch ran for Roberts, but was out at second on a force out.
St. Mary's added another run to its lead in the fifth inning. The Hilltoppers had their best chance of the game to put points on the board in the fifth inning.
CAITIE CARNEY opened the inning with a walk.
MARISA BOGART doubled to left center putting two Hilltoppers in scoring position. Three consecutive outs stalled the St. Edward's attack and ended the inning.
The Rattlers scored their final run of the game in the final inning to extend their to lead to 4-0. The Hilltoppers had one final opportunity to extend the game, but a strikeout and two groundouts ended the game and the title run for St. Edward's.
The Hilltoppers placed four players on the All-Heartland Tournament team. Heartland Conference Player of the Year
KENDALL LUCAS and Heartland Conference Pitcher of the Year
SARAH DEBROW headlined the tourney team.
FAITH ROBERTS and
EMILY MAYFIELD were the other all-Heartland honorees for St. Edward's.
The Hilltoppers now await word from the NCAA on whether they will advance to the NCAA South Central Regional Tournament. Prior to the Heartland Conference Tournament, St. Edward's sat comfortably in the sixth seed in the region, meaning they would advance to the tournament. Stay tuned to gohilltoppers.com for more information.
