AUSTIN, Texas – The 18
th-ranked St. Edward's Baseball team opened Heartland Conference play in style with a doubleheader sweep of Oklahoma Christian Saturday afternoon at Lucian-Hamilton Field. The Hilltoppers rallied in game one to win in extra innings, 5-4. They controlled game two for a 4-3 victory.
After starting the season 5-4, the Hilltoppers have now rallied to win eight of their last 10 games.
Game 1The opening game of the doubleheader did not start the way the Hilltoppers would have liked. Oklahoma Christian (8-7, 0-2 HC) scored the first four runs of the ball game by pushing across single runs in the third and fourth innings, as well as two runs in the top of the seventh.
St. Edward's (13-6, 2-0 HC), who came back from a 10-0 deficit against Drury two weeks ago, took its never-say-die attitude with them to the bottom of the seventh. After pinch-hitters
JONATHAN DAVIS and
MILES WRIGHT both reached base to start the inning,
NATE TURNER drew a walk to load the bases with nobody out.
A.J. HERMANSON singled in two runs to cut the lead in half. After
CUTTER RUNTE walked to load the bases again,
GABLE WHITACRE drove in run number three with a groundout. After an intentional walk with two outs to
JOSEPH OLSON loaded bases one last time, J.D. Arrowood singled home Hermanson to tie the game. Runte also tried to score on the play but was thrown out at the plate to send the game to extra innings.
After the Eagles failed to score in the top of the eighth inning, St. Edward's received a leadoff single by
NICK LERICK. After a sacrifice bunt moved Lerick to second, the Eagles got Turner to fly out for out two. Hermanson stepped to the plate with a chance to be a hero. The senior from Georgetown delivered with a single to score Lerick with the winning run.
CAM HATCH (3-2) picked up the win in relief as he worked a scoreless eighth inning.
Game 2The second game saw the Hilltoppers fall behind again. Oklahoma Christian tallied a run in the top of the third, however this time St. Edward's didn't wait to respond. Hermanson gave the lead back to St. Edwards with a two-run homer in the bottom of the third.
Both teams plated a run in the fourth inning, along with a run for St. Edward's in the fifth inning. The Eagles scored a run in the top of the sixth inning to make it close, but
VINNY WHITENIGHT sealed the victory with his first save in the seventh inning.
BRYCE DAVIS (3-1) secured the victory, allowing one run on four hits over 2.0 innings of relief.
Hermanson led the Hilltoppers at the plate, going 5-for-9 with five RBI and two runs scored on the day. He had a double and home run for the home team.
The two teams will battle in the series finale Sunday. First-pitch is scheduled for noon at Lucian-Hamilton Field. Live video and stats will be available on the Hilltopper Athletic Website.
