AUSTIN, Texas – The St. Edward's Baseball team erased an early six-run deficit to outlast Texas A&M-Kingsville, 12-11, Tuesday afternoon at Lucian-Hamilton Field, in a game that tallied 23 runs on 29 hits.
 
Texas A&M-Kingsville (19-8), got off to a hot start offensively, after a leadoff homerun to start the game. The Javelinas followed up the shot to left center with five more runs, on seven hits, over the first two innings of play.
 
St. Edward's (21-8) fought its way back into the game, following four runs in the bottom of the second. The inning got started with a single from J.D. ARROWOOD, which was followed by two Javelina errors to load the bases.  CUTTER RUNTE then cleared the bases with a deep shot to left center, and was later brought in to score by Wes Harris, making the score 6-4 after two innings of play.
 
Texas A&M-Kingsville tacked on two more runs in the top of the third on two hits and one walk, pushing the Hilltopper deficit to four runs, 8-4.
 
The Hilltoppers would answer with six runs of its own in the bottom of the third on a KEVIN MAYO single, a Harris sacrifice fly, a NATE TURNER double, a Grace Whitacre infield single, and an Arrowood single. The Hilltoppers would take a 10-8 lead, eliminating a six-run deficit in just two frames of play.
 
Harris knocked in two more runs in the bottom of the fourth to expand the Hilltopper lead to 12-8.
 
After the Javelinas pushed across two runs in the top of the fifth inning and one run in the sixth, the Hilltoppers called upon ERIC HESTER to come in from the bullpen to settle the hot offense of the Javelinas. Hester did just that, allowing no runs over the course of the seventh and eighth innings.
 
"Hester got the game under control on the mound," head coach Rob Penders said. "When he keeps the ball down, he is a really good pitcher."
 
Hilltopper closer CAM HATCH, came on in the ninth and quietly finished off a three and a half hour marathon game on the Hilltop.
 
"We are never out of game and can swing the bats with anybody," Penders said. "They came out of the gate a little stronger than we did, but we rallied back to answer. That is something we have done all season."
 
The victory for the Hilltoppers was their 11^th come-from-behind win on the season.
 
St. Edward's will travel to Lubbock, Texas to undergo a three-game series against Lubbock Christian, starting with a doubleheader Friday against Lubbock Christian. First-pitch is set for 3 p.m. Live coverage will be available via the Chaps Athletic Website.