SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The St. Edward's Softball team dropped the final game of the regular season in a 4-2 loss to arch-rival St. Mary's Saturday afternoon.
 
St. Mary's (39-9, 19-4 HC) got on the board first in the third inning. The Rattlers batted around as they tallied four hits to take the early three-run lead.
 
St. Edward's (25-20, 12-11 HC) battled back with a run in the top of the fourth inning. After EMILY MAYFIELD and MORGAN DUFOUR both reached base on a Rattler error and moved up a base because of a passed ball, CAITIE CARNEY singled home Mayfield for the first run of the game. The Hilltoppers would have the bases loaded with nobody out, but came away with nothing else to show for it.
 
The Rattlers got the run back in the bottom of the sixth inning.
 
The Hilltoppers tried to rally in the seventh inning as FAITH ROBERTS and Marissa Bogart started the inning with a double and single, respectively. After a Hilltopper strikeout, KACI OLSON singled home Roberts to cut the lead to 4-2. With two runners on, St. Edward's looked to tie the game, but Rattler starting pitcher Vianna Gutierrez retired the last two batters to end the game.
 
Hilltopper starting pitcher SARAH DEBROW suffered the loss, allowing four runs on nine hits, while walking five and striking out seven in 6.0 innings of work.
 
The Hilltoppers will be back in action Thursday as they open up the Heartland Conference Tournament. They will be the #3-seed and will take on #2-seed Texas A&M-International in the first round. First-pitch is set for 1 p.m. at St. Mary's University. Live video and stats will be available on the Rattler Athletic Website.
 
Heartland Conference Softball Standings
Team                                          Conference            Overall
(1) St. Mary's                                  19-4                     39-9
Lubbock Christian*                         19-4                     36-12
(2) Texas A&M-International          16-8                     24-23
Oklahoma Christian*                     13-10                    25-18
(3) St. Edward's                            12-11                     25-20
Rogers State*                                 8-15                     14-31
(4) Newman                                    7-15                     16-37
Panhandle State                             7-17                     16-32
UT-Permian Basin                          3-20                       8-43
 
(X) – Heartland Conference Tournament Seed
* - Provisional Member, Not eligible for postseason play