AUSTIN, Texas - It was homecoming weekend for St. Edward's and the first game of the doubleheader with Angelo State had enough drama and action for the whole weekend.
BREAH WHITTEN had a walk-off single to give the Hilltoppers a 3-2 victory in the 11
th inning, before dropping the second game, 9-2.
Game 1: (SEU, 3-2 (11))LAUREN SLATTEN (6-3) pitched the best game of her Hilltopper career, as she and RamBelle starter Brandy Marlett starred in a pitcher's duel. Neither pitcher gave up a run through the first eight innings of work and each team had just one hit a piece before the teams went to the international tiebreaker rule and placed a runner on second before each inning starting in the ninth.
Both teams scored a single run in the ninth inning as Becky Wilhelm picked up an RBI and
KAYLA APPLEBY matched her with and RBI-single for the Hilltoppers.
In the 10
th inning, Angelo State (11-4) got a run on a sacrifice lineout from Bailey Wallace to go ahead, 2-1. St. Edward's (8-6) quickly got an RBI-single from Whitten to tie the score, 2-2. The Hilltoppers loaded the bases with one out but the RamBelles escaped the jam to send it to the 11
th inning.
Slatten stranded two baserunners in the top of the inning and set the stage for the Hilltoppers.
After
MORGAN DUFOUR was placed on second to start the inning, Appleby drew a walk. Two strikeouts by the Angelo State pitchers brought the game down to Whitten. The junior stepped to the plate and laced a single up the middle. Dufour rounded third base and slid into home ahead of the throw to give the Hilltoppers a 3-2 walk-off victory.
Appleby supplied two hits for the offense while Whitten was 3-for-5 with two RBI.
Slatten did not allow an earned run on three hits while walking four and striking out nine in 11.0 innings of work.
Game 2: (ASU, 6-0)Angelo State did all of its damage in the first three innings, as it pushed across six runs off of 10 hits and St. Edward's could not recover.
ALEX MAYFIELD,
NICOLE PARNELL and Appleby each had one hit each for the offense.
OLIVIA BURDICK (2-2) took the loss for St. Edward's.
ASHLEE REX came on in relief and pitched outstanding. The junior righty allowed just three hits, while walking one and striking out another in 4.1 inning of shutout ball.
"I was so proud of our girls and how they fought to win the first game," head coach Lindsay Gardner said. "It never felt tense, we simply stayed the course and found a way to win. I am very excited for the day that we bring that same approach to both games in a doubleheader. I believe we are still getting better every day."
St. Edward's wastes no time to get back to work as they take on cross-town rival Huston-Tillotson in a doubleheader. First-pitch is set for noon at Diane Daniels Field. Live video and stats will be available on the Hilltopper Athletic Website.
"We have two more games tomorrow to make a statement before heading into conference play. I'm looking forward to watching our girls compete."
