AUSTIN, Texas – St. Edward's once again proves they can overcome nearly any lead as the fought back to win game one of its doubleheader in walk-off fashion, 7-6. 
 
Game 1
Texas A&M-International (16-28, 7-16 HC) singled their way to two runs in the top of the third inning but the Hilltoppers quickly gained the lead in the bottom half of the inning. NATE TURNER reached on a fielders choice and quickly stole second with one out. A.J. HERMANSON hit a rocket to centerfield and helped but runners on the corners. Hermanson stayed aggressive and made his way to second base by way of a stolen base, setting the table for STEVEN ROBERTSON. The designated hitter came through with a two-run single through the right side of the infield to tie the score. A Joe Olson single and J.D.'s Arrowood's fielders choice would bring Robertson around to score and give the Hilltoppers a 3-2 lead.
 
After the Dustdevil centerfielder dropped a routine fly ball in the fourth inning, DYLAN WATTS hustled his way around to second base. Runte would advance him to third by grounding out to the right side of the infield and NATE TURNER's liner off the pitcher's leg brought him home to bump the lead up 4-2.
 
Texas A&M International hit five singles in the fifth inning to score four runs and take a 6-4 lead. With its backs against the wall, St. Edward's would scratch another run across in the sixth inning as Turner came around to score on a Hermanson single to cut the deficit to 6-5.
 
With just three outs left in the game, the Hilltoppers would mount yet another comeback bid to earn the victory. Joe Olson started the inning by driving the first pitch he saw to right field for a single. MILES WRIGHT came in to pinch run for Olson and the move paid off as Wright came around to score from first base after Arrowood smashed a clutch RBI-double to right center field. KEVIN MAYO moved Arrowood over to third by way of a sacrifice bunt. After a strikeout, DYLAN WATTS came to the plate looking to win the game for the Hilltoppers. Watts would turn on a 0-1 pitch and smashed a single to left field to bring in Arrowood for the 7-6 walk off victory.
 
ERIC HESTER would earn the win from the reliever spot as he pitched 2.1 innings, allowing four hits while allowing one run and striking out three batters. After the team was finished mobbing Watts at first base, they would regroup to play game two. 
 
Game 2:
In game two, the Hilltoppers would have a great start from the Brett Tomko Semifinalist CAMERON STANTON. He would allow just four hits through five innings of work to start the game.
 
St. Edward's would have an early lift as NATE TURNER led off the bottom of the first inning with a triple to the left center gap. Hermanson would bring him in with a sacrifice fly to centerfield to give the Hilltoppers a 1-0 lead.
 
The Hilltoppers would put two more runs on the board in the third inning, and it was Turner once again who got the inning started as he smoked a single through the right side of the infield. One pitch later, Hermanson would hit a single to left field giving the St. Edward's runners at first and second with no outs. GABLE WHITACRE was nearly hit by a pitch, but managed to get a sacrifice bunt down the third base line to move the runners to second and third. The strategy paid off as Arrowood once again came through with a big hit as he singled through the right side to bring in Hermanson and Turner and give the Hilltoppers a 3-0 lead.
 
St. Edward's would build on its lead in the fifth inning, as Whitacre led off the inning with a walk. Olson would slice a double down the right field line to get Whitacre to third for KEVIN MAYO. Mayo fought off some tough pitches before slamming a double to the right center gap to bring in two more runs and extend the lead to 5-0.
 
The Dustdevils would finally get to Stanton as they came up with a two-out three-run home run in the sixth inning. St. Edward's would answer back in the bottom half of the inning as Turner doubled to start the inning and Hermanson once again singled him in to extend the lead to 6-3.
 
St. Edward's bumped the lead up to 11-3 after a five-run seventh inning. Turner was right in the middle of things once again as he singled home Wes Harris to start the scoring. Hermanson registered another single up the middle, this time scoring Turner and Runte. A couple of batters later, Joe Olson would hit a high chopper to shortstop which took a great hop for the Hilltopper and skied over the shortstop's head into the outfield to score Hermanson. A dropped pop fly off of the bat of Arrowood would wrap up the scoring for the inning.
 
Texas A&M International's Connor Belvin hit his second three-run homerun on the day as he cut the Hiltopper lead to 11-6. St. Edward's would score two more in the bottom of the eighth inning. Wes Harris tomahawked a single to left field to start the inning and CUTTER RUNTE turned on an inside pitch to rip a double down the right field line. Harris would score two pitches later via a wild pitch and Hermanson would rip his fourth single of the game to score Runte and extend the lead to 13-6.
 
STUART PATKE would shut down the Dustdevils in the ninth inning recording a perfect inning and two strikeouts in relief. Stanton moved to 7-0 on the season and senior DALTON BROWN pitched two innings of relief allowing three runs and striking out two batters.
 
 
 
"A few of these seniors were on the team that went to the World Series, so they will always have a special place with our program. It's tough to see them graduate but thankfully we still have a lot of work to do this season and we are still chasing our goal of getting back to the World Series. We intend to keep the ride going as long as it can last." Penders also spoke of his team's chance to win conference, "It's always a tight race at the end of the season and we knew it would be going into the season. Regardless of what happens, we need to go to Newman and play good baseball. Our goal is to make it to Regionals and we've put ourselves in a position to do that."
 
St. Edward's will travel to Wichita, Kan. to take on the Newman Jets next weekend. First pitch of Friday's doubleheader is set for 3:00 p.m. St. Edward's finishes the day just a game ahead of St. Mary's as the Rattlers will host Arkansas Fort Smith in a doubleheader Sunday afternoon to see if they will retain first place via a tiebreaker. Tune into the Hilltopper Athletic Website for more details and updates of the action.
 
Heartland Conference Baseball Standings
Team                                          Conference            Overall
St. Edward's                                    20-4                    35-10
St. Mary's                                        18-4                    31-11
UT-Permian Basin                           17-7                    28-12
UA Fort Smith                                  12-8                    24-15
Oklahoma Christian*                       13-11                   27-17
Newman                                          11-13                   21-21
Lubbock Christian*                            9-11                   22-22
Texas A&M-International                   7-15                   16-27
Rogers State*                                    6-18                    15-27
Panhandle State                                2-22                     3-42
 
(X) – Heartland Conference Tournament Seed
* - Provisional Member, Not eligible for postseason play