Post Game Interviews

Photo Gallery - Game 1

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. - The 10^th-ranked St. Edward's Baseball team took the field Thursday afternoon for the first round of the NCAA South Central Regional Tournament as the number two seed. The Hilltoppers found it difficult to muster any offense and came through with just four hits in a 5-0 defeat at the hands of West Texas A&M.
 
Hilltopper starting pitcher BRYCE DAVIS ran into some early trouble as six of the first nine batters reached base. The Buffs would strike first with a two-out rally to take the early 1-0 lead. The second inning started with a barrage of hits that included a leadoff double, single and double to start the inning. An RBI-groundout would push the lead to 3-0. With runners at the corners, Davis would nearly knock down a double-play ball, but it slipped just past his glove and a run would come in to score. Davis was then relieved by ERIC HESTER, who worked out of a jam to keep the lead at 4-0.
 
St. Edward's (40-12) would attempt a comeback in the fifth inning as J.D. ARROWOOD ripped his second single of the day to left field to start the inning. WESLEY HARRIS drew a walk to give the Hilltoppers runners at first and second with one out, but West Texas A&M starter Tyler Gibson induced a pop up and a ground out to second to end the threat.
 
The Buffs would tack on another run in the seventh inning. After a one-out triple, the infielders crept in to try and hold the runner at third. However, KEVIN MAYO had to make a spectacular diving play at second base to keep the ball from going to the outfield and he threw De La Paz out at first while a run came home to score.
 
Hester was phenomenal as he finished the day with 7.2 innings pitched, allowing just one run. He managed to scatter five hits and he struck out two batters in arguably his best outing of the season.
 
Head Coach Rob Penders after the loss said, "We had to go to our bullpen early and we didn't want to have to do that. Bryce has been outstanding all year for us and they had a plan of attack to combat his pitching style. We also didn't make enough adjustments on our end to win today." Penders was able to find a few bright spots despite the tough outing, "ERIC HESTER was great, especially for a guy pitching in his first regional tournament. I also thought J.D. ARROWOOD had a good day at the plate today going 2-for-4."
 
Penders was quick to suggest that his team is down, but anything but out right now. "I told the guys the winner of the tournament has always had at least one loss. It doesn't matter if you lose early or late, if you step up to the challenge there will be plenty of opportunities to make it to the end and win it. Six-team tournaments are always tough, and we have deep pitching staff this year, so we think we are ready to win the five or six games necessary to move on. Until someone sends us home, we are going to battle every step of the way."
 
 St. Edward's will face the loser of the #1 Colorado Mesa and #6 St. Mary's game tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. MST. Live stats and live video can be found via the Colorado Mesa Athletic Website.