AUSTIN, Texas – The St. Edward's Softball took both games of a doubleheader against crosstown-rival Huston-Tillotson, 6-1 and 7-0, to finish off an impressive 5-1 week at home. The two victories gives the Hilltoppers wins in eight of their last 10 games.
 
Game 1: SEU, 6-1
In the first game, St. Edward's (10-6) could not get its offense started early. It was Huston-Tillotson (1-5) that struck first in the top of the fourth inning as Zoey Castillo drove in a run on a sacrifice fly.
 
The Hilltoppers evened the score in the bottom of the inning when Dufour launched her third home run of the season. The solo home run was a line drive over the left centerfield wall.
 
St. Edward's added two more runs in the fifth inning when ALEX MAYFIELD and NICOLE PARNELL started the inning with infield singles. After a fielder's choice retired Mayfield at third, Dufour launched a two-run double past the centerfielder for a 3-0 lead.
 
The Hilltoppers put up three more runs in the sixth inning for good measure. Mayfield drove in a run with another infield single and Dufour picked up two more RBI on a single.
 
ASHLEE REX (1-1) shut the Rams down in order for the seventh inning to finish off her complete-game victory. Rex allowed one run on just four hits, while walking three and striking out two in 7.0 innings of work.
 
Dufour finished 3-for-5 with one run scored and five RBI, while Mayfield was a perfect 4-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI.

"Alex did a good job of surveying the field and placing the ball where the fielders were not," head coach Lindsay Gardner said. "Her ability to control the bat is making her a difficult out at the plate. It was also good to see Morgan make some adjustments to her swing. When she is on time, she can change the game with one swing of the bat."
 
Game 2: SEU, 7-0
Game two was a different story in the early going as St. Edward's pushed across a run in the first inning. Mayfield was at it again as she led off the inning with another infield single. She stole second and moved to third on a single by Parnell. Dufour picked up an RBI on a pop up to second base that Mayfield scampered home on.
 
Hilltopper starting pitcher OLIVIA BURDICK (3-2) was dealing in the circle as she kept the Rams off balance all afternoon. She tossed a complete-game shutout while scattering just four hits in 7.0 innings of work.
 
St. Edward's added a run in the fourth inning on a KACI OLSON RBI-double and five more in the fifth inning to make it, 7-0. Appleby had a two-RBI single and SAMI WILLIAMS launched her first home run of her Hilltopper career with two runners on for the final margin.
 
Both Mayfield and Appleby had three hits each to lead the attack in game two.

"I was pleased with how our girls gained energy as the games went on today," Gardner said. "We started out a little flat, but definitley made improvements at the plate, began attacking better pitches and bringing in runners in scoring position."
 
St. Edward's will back in action next weekend when they open up Heartland Conference play against defending co-champion Lubbock Christian. The three-game series will open with a doubleheader on Friday starting at 1 p.m. at Diane Daniels Field. They will finish the series with a single game Saturday at Noon. All three games will have live video and stats available on the Hilltopper Athletic Website.