AUSTIN, Texas – St. Edward's Baseball was running at full power on Saturday, as it swept its doubleheader against Drury, 4-3 and 10-1. The Hilltoppers hit four home runs in two games on homecoming day, and batted .350 as a team.
 
On his birthday, NICK LERICK had a standout day for the home squad. He collected four hits in two games, batting .667 and coming a home run short of the cycle in game two. The senior also drove in a pair of runs, and scored two for the Hilltoppers. JOSEPH OLSON also turned in a productive day, going 3-for-7 with a double and two RBI. J.D. ARROWOOD, KELSIE DANCER, HUNTER COURSON, and ROMEO CORTINA all homered.
 
On the mound, CAMERON STANTON earned the win in game one, and moves to 3-0 on the year. He cashed in five strikeouts, and allowed just one run on three hits in four innings of work. In game two, STUART SPRINGER delivered another quality start with no runs and seven strikeouts in seven innings. He moves to 2-0 on the year.
 
After coming into the weekend at 6-3, St. Edward's is now 9-3 overall, and riding a seven game win streak. Drury drops to 0-3 to start their season, with one more game to play against the Hilltoppers.
 
"I feel outstanding. You can't feel any better," said head coach Rob Penders. "The first game was tightly fought, and after those type of games in doubleheaders you never know what you're going to get with a good team. It was good for us to battle through some early innings, and make some adjustments at the plate. It was a pretty lopsided victory, but much closer than it looked at the end."
 
Game One: St. Edward's 4 Drury 3
 
The Hilltoppers came out in the opener with their power setting on high. After retiring the Panthers in order, the home team came to the plate with bats piping hot. A one-out walk and a wild pitch put GABLE WHITACRE on second base, and Arrowood followed up by muscling the ball to the opposite field for a two-run home run. The long ball was Arrowood's fourth of the year, and third of the weekend.
 
Then, in the bottom of the third, Arrowood stepped into the box again. However, the Panthers chose to intentionally walk the hot-hitting first basemen, but it made no difference. ROMEO CORTINA made Drury pay for the walk as he hit a ball over the left field netting into Strohmeyer Varsity Tennis Courts.
 
However, Drury was not going anywhere. The Panthers clawed their way back, scoring two in the fourth, and another in the fifth to make it 4-3.
 
St. Edward's bullpen swooped in to preserve the win. CAM HATCH took the mound in the sixth and struck out two without surrendering a run. In the seventh it was all JUAN CORTINA as the junior transfer fanned the first two, and drew a ground out for the save; his third of the year.
 
Game Two: St. Edward's 10 Drury 1
 
Game two of the doubleheader started in completely opposite fashion. St. Edward's went down in order through the first two innings, and a pair of hits for Drury in the second resulted in nothing. The visitors collected another hit in third, but the Hilltoppers continued to ride Springers arm, until the fourth inning.
 
A double for Whitacre in the bottom of the fourth broke up the Panthers no-hit bid, and another double from Olson took away the shutout. However, that was only the beginning. The Hilltoppers scored two runs on four hits in the fifth, and four more runs on six hits in the sixth. When GRAYSON PRATT entered the game for Springer in the seventh, he took the mound with a comfortable 9-0 lead.
 
A run for the Panthers in the eighth was of no consequence, and KELSIE DANCER added a pinch-hit solo home run in the eighth for good measure. Drury was unable to muster anything in the ninth.
 
As a team, St. Edward's is hitting .299 on the season, and the pitching staff continues to be outstanding. The Hilltopper hurlers hold a combined earned-run average of 1.88, with opposing hitters batting just .209.
 
Coach Penders and his squad look to complete the four-game sweep on Sunday at 12 p.m. Live stats and video for the matchup against the Panthers will be available at GoHilltoppers.com.