DURANT, Okla. – The 15^th-ranked St. Edward's Baseball team continues to show its resiliency as it completed its ninth comeback win of the early season, defeating Southeastern Oklahoma State, 8-6, Tuesday afternoon at the Ballpark in Durant.
 
After SE Oklahoma State (9-10) opened the scoring in the first inning with a run, St. Edward's (18-7) answered with a run of its own in the second inning. Jonathon Arrowood led off the inning with a walk. KEVIN MAYO followed with a double. After a Hilltopper strikeout, CUTTER RUNTE drove in Arrowood with a sacrifice fly to knot the score, 1-1.
 
The Savage Storm retook the lead in the fourth inning on a home run from Cody Coats. The home team would pile on two more runs in the fifth inning to make it 4-1.
 
In the sixth inning, the Hilltopper comeback was in full effect. With one out, St. Edward's loaded the bases. NATE TURNER drove in one run on a single. A.J. HERMANSON tied the game, as his double drove in two more runs. JOSEPH OLSON singled home the go-ahead run to make it, 5-4.
 
Coats was not done for SE Oklahoma State as he launched his second home run of the game over the wall in left to tie the game, 5-5.
 
Runte answered the bell for the Hilltoppers when he ripped his second career homer down the right field line for two runs, and a 7-5 advantage.
 
After both teams traded a run in the eighth inning, CAM HATCH closed things out with 1.2 innings of work for his fourth save. VINNY WHITENIGHT picked up his first career victory with two innings of relief.
 
"We won a tough game on the road," head coach Rob Penders said. "Playing in a different environment is always a challenge. We were able to overcome that challenge by swinging the bats well. If you look at our offensive numbers, nothing jumps out at you, but our hitting is explosive, and we can score runs in an instant it seems. It is a fun team to watch."
 
Five players collected two hits for the Hilltoppers as they pounded out 13 hits as a team. Runte led the way with three RBI.
 
The Hilltoppers will be back in action Friday when they get back to Heartland Conference play with a three-game series at Rogers State. Friday's doubleheader will start at 1 p.m. in Claremore, Okla. Saturday's series finale will also start at 1 p.m. All three games will feature live video and stats on the Hillcat Athletic Website.