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STEVEN ROBERTSON Walk-offAUSTIN, Texas – The #24 St. Edward's baseball team erased a 10-run deficit in Game 1 to win 11-10. However, just like the day prior, St. Edward's dropped the second game by a score of 2-0.
Game 1: Hilltopper starter
ERIC HESTER had a rough outing as he allowed 10 runs through the first two innings. However, the Hilltoppers would fire each other up in the dugout and come out with a bang to start the third inning.
Trailing 10-0, St. Edward's (8-6) began its comeback as
NATE TURNER reached base via a fielding error with one out. A.J. Hermanson walked and
GABLE WHITACRE hit a single through the left side to load the bases.
JONATHON ARROWOOD singled through the right side to score both Turner and Hermanson, bringing the score to 10-2.
After a strikeout gave #16 Drury (2-2) two outs in the inning,
JOSEPH OLSON ripped a single to center to load the bases once again. Whitacre came home after the Panther catcher airmailed a pickoff attempt into right field.
DYLAN WATTS fought to put the ball in play and his hustle forced an errant throw from the third baseman which brought home Arrowood from second base to cut the deficit to 10-4.
Shortly after the play,
MILES WRIGHT came to the plate looking to continue the rally. Wright drove a pitch to left center field and it looked as though the left fielder had a beat on the ball. As the crowd rose to it's feet to see what the result would be, a loud 'bang' occurred as Wright's hit bounced off the scoreboard and his three-run homerun brought the score to 10-7.
The Hilltoppers managed to tie the score at 10-10 in the fourth inning as
NATE TURNER once again got the rally started with a single. Hermanson stepped to the plate and belted his second homerun in as many days to left field. The Panthers made a call to the bullpen after the homerun, but Whitacre smacked a double down the left field line. After Olson flied out to left field,
KEVIN MAYO slashed a single to right center field to score Whitacre and tie the game.
St. Edward's bullpen was terrific today as the Hilltoppers allowed just two hits through 5.2 innings of work from a combination of
VINNY WHITENIGHT,
CAMERON STANTON and
CAM HATCH.
DYLAN WATTS was 1-for-3 in the first game, but his one hit was a big one as he singled to lead off the seventh inning. Shortly after Wright bunted Watts to second base and Head Coach Rob Penders went to his bench to find some late magic.
STEVEN ROBERTSON was called on to pinch-hit and he delivered a low sinking line drive to left field. The centerfielder made a diving effort for the ball, but it dropped just under his glove and Watts came around to score and give the Hilltoppers a dramatic 11-10 walk-off victory.
Robertson gave us a moment-by-moment visual of the play after the game, saying, "I was looking for my pitch and I took it to the left center gap once I saw it was up in the zone." Robertson went on to say "I wanted to come through for my team and get the win. Honestly, my first reaction once I hit it was hoping he wouldn't catch it but once I saw it drop I knew we won and it's a great feeling to get a win in that situation."
GAME 2: St. Edward's tried to take the series in Game 2 of the doubleheader but couldn't find the timely hitting they had found in Game 1 as Drury came away with a 2-0 victory.
JOSH GUERRA started the game for the Hilltoppers on the mound and struggled to get ahead in the counts against the Panthers. The Panthers scratched two runs across in the second inning as they came away with a clutch two-out two-run single, and his day would end after the second inning.
The Hilltoppers tried to answer the bell in the fifth inning as Watts ripped a single through the right side. After two quick outs, Turner hit a single to right field and brought Hermanson up to bat with two runners on base. However, Panther starter Luke Burnidge would get Hermanson to fly out to right field for the third out of the inning.
St. Edward's mustered eight hits in the second game but they were all singles and dispersed over seven innings.
CAMERON STANTON was excellent in relief as he allowed just three hits over seven innings of work.
St. Edward's will host Houston-Victoria at Lucian Hamilton Field Friday. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 12:30 p.m. Live video and stats will be available on the Hilltopper Athletic Website.
