KINGSVILLE, Texas – MEGAN HOFFMAN came up big again with a two-RBI triple to pace the Hilltopper offense and send St. Edward's to a second-straight victory Saturday afternoon. The team would hang on for a 4-3 win over Southwestern Oklahoma State in the Emerald Beach Hotel Tourney hosted by Texas A&M-Kingsville.
 
St. Edward's (4-4) got on the board in the third inning when KACI OLSON led off with a single to right field. BREAH WHITTEN followed with an infield single. A sacrifice bunt from NICOLE PARNELL brought Olson in to score all the way from second base for a 1-0 Hilltopper lead.
 
After SW Oklahoma State (2-8) tied the score with a run in the top of the fourth inning, the Hilltoppers struck back with three big runs in the bottom of the inning. After KAYLA APPLEBY reached by an error and MORGAN DUFOUR walked to lead off the inning, it set the stage for Hoffman's heroics. The freshman shortstop ripped a triple down the right field line to plate both runners. Fellow freshman OLIVIA BURDICK knocked Hoffman in with a sacrifice fly to centerfield for a 4-1 Hilltopper lead.

"It was exciting to see MEGAN HOFFMAN get into a groove at the plate," head coach Lindsey Gardner said. "She has been working hard on her mechanics and has really stepped up in the last two games in key situations."
 
St. Edward's hung on for dear life in the seventh inning as the Bulldogs plated two runs, but Hilltopper starting pitcher LAUREN SLATTEN came back in to put out the fire with a strikeout looking and the tying run on second base.
 
Slatten (3-2) picked up the victory against the Bulldogs, allowing one run on six hits, while walking three and striking out a career-high 10 batters.

"Today's game was a fun one to win," head coach Lindsey Gardner said. "Our team did a much better job of working together to manufacture runs, and we played solid defense behind Lauren's excellent pitching performance. Tomorrow is a big day against TAMU-Commerce and TAMU-Kingsville. Our goal is to get better every day, and we are doing that."
 
The Hilltoppers will be back in action for the final day at the Emerald Beach Hotel Tournament on Sunday. They will take on TAMU-Commerce at 1 p.m. and TAMU-Kingsville at 3:30 p.m. at Hubert Field. Live stats will be available on the Hilltopper Athletic Website.