WICHITA, Kan. – Trailing 12-1 after four innings of play, the 8^th-ranked St. Edward's Baseball team made a valiant comeback effort, but fell short in a 15-11 loss to Newman at McCarthy Field on the final day of the regular season. A win would have given the Heartland Conference Title to the Hilltoppers outright, but the team still does claim a co-championship with rival St. Mary's.
 
St. Edward's (37-11, 22-5 HC) got started on the right foot, scoring a run in the top of the first inning. GABLE WHITACRE's double scored A.J. HERMANSON from first base for an early 1-0 Hilltopper lead.
 
Newman (23-24, 12-15 HC) started on fire on the offensive end of things. The Jets scored 12 runs on 12 hits, and were helped by a Hilltopper error.
 
Down 12-1, St. Edward's was determined to claw its way back into the game. After a one-out single by NATE TURNER, Hermanson sent his fifth home run of the season over the wall in left field. Whitacre followed with a home run to left field of his own.  Four batters later, DYLAN WATTS smacked a three-run home run to cut the lead to, 12-7.
 
The Hilltoppers got their first two men on base in the sixth inning, but a double play and strikeout squashed the rally.
 
After Newman increased its lead to 13-7 with a run in the bottom of the seventh, St. Edward's broke out the bats once again. Whitacre tallied a two-RBI double, while J.D. ARROWOOD and KEVIN MAYO both drove in a single run each. That cut the Jet lead to, 13-11.
 
Newman gave itself a little cushion with two runs in the bottom of the eighth and it was down to the final three outs for St. Edward's.
 
The Hilltoppers loaded the bases with nobody out, but reliever Joe Cannady retired the next three batters for the save.
 
"Obviously, we would've liked to have won the conference outright," head coach Rob Penders said. "However, this team has put itself in position for something bigger, and that is a regional berth, and a chance to play for the National Championship. That is what we are now focused on."
 
St. Edward's will be back in action Thursday when they travel to take part in the Heartland Conference Tournament. The three-day, double-elimination event will be hosted by St. Mary's at Dickson Stadium.  St. Edward's will open against UT-Permian Basin on the first day, but no start time has been announced. Live video and stats will be available on the Rattler Athletic Website.