CANYON, Texas- The St. Edward's Softball team split its doubleheader with Eastern New Mexico Saturday afternoon on the final day of the Lady Buff Invite. The Hilltoppers took game one, 8-5, but fell in game two, 5-4.
Game 1:St. Edward's (10-7) came out bats blazing in the first inning.
ALEX MAYFIELD led off with a single.
KACI OLSON followed, advancing to second on an error.
MORGAN DUFOUR cleaned up with a homer to left field, sending all three Hilltoppers home for a 3-0 lead.
Their hot streak was kept alive in the second inning with a total of four runs.
EMILY MAYFIELD,
LAURA ALVARADO,
ALEX MAYFIELD and
BREAH WHITTEN all scored to bring the tally to 7-0 entering the bottom of the second. Neither team would score again until the fifth inning when St. Edward's
CYDNEY ERVIN was brought home by a single from
EMILY MAYFIELD.
Eastern New Mexico (10-4) got on the board with a run in the bottom of the fifth to bring the score to 8-1, and prevent the run-rule victory for St. Edward's. Jacqueline Candelaria tripled to left field and registered an RBI as Amanda Martinez came around to score.
Still trailing, the Zias mounted a comeback rally in the bottom of sixth. Kyra Sirag kicked off the inning, scoring off a single hit by Simone Laurenz. Susannah Chandler put up a point as well. Then Elizabeth Velasquez stepped up and earned two RBI's off a single to right field. Morgan Green and Laurenz were the scorers. The score was now 8-5.
Although Eastern New Mexico's efforts brought it within three runs of the Hilltoppers, St. Edward's pitcher
SARAH DEBROW would close out the inning and the game.
Game 2:Part two of the doubleheader was a much closer contest. It was the Zias who struck first this time, scoring three runs in the top of the third inning. Amanda Martinez hauled in the first score, advancing to third and then continuing on to home plate on an error. Sirag would follow with an RBI and then a run of her own.
St. Edward's answered in the bottom of the fourth.
CAITIE CARNEY made her mark with a run on a fielder's choice.
EMILY MAYFIELD helped the Hilltoppers to tie up the score, 3-3, with two RBI's, doubling down the left field line.
Aurelia Sandoval gave the Zias a one-run advantage on a sacrifice bunt, which brought home Martinez in the fifth inning. Sirag added to the lead with an RBI in the top of the seventh. Sandoval scored on Sirag's single to second base.
Entering the bottom of the seventh, the Hilltoppers trailed 5-3. Olson singled to left center, earning an RBI as Alvarado put a run on the board. That would be St. Edward's final score, leaving the bases loaded and falling short of a sweep.
St. Edward's is back in action Friday in Denton, Texas for the Texas Woman's Tournament. The Hilltoppers are set to take on Emporia State and Texas Woman's on Friday Feb. 27. Live coverage will be available on the Texas Woman's Athletic Website.
