AUSTIN, Texas – Senior pitcher CAMERON STANTON threw the first complete-game shutout of his career on Thursday afternoon against Rogers State as St. Edward's Baseball swept its doubleheader with the Hillcats. The Hilltoppers took game one, 9-1, and game two by a score of 4-0.
 
Stanton threw nine innings in game two, and struck out 10 batters. He gave up just four hits with no walks allowed, and moves to 6-1 on the year. The senior now has four complete games to his name.
 
At the plate, J.D. ARROWOOD finished the day with three runs and three RBI on a double and a single. NICK LERICK also cashed in three RBI with a triple. HUNTER COURSON started game one, and went 2-for-3 with three RBI as well. Overall, they produced just four hits for extra bases, but outscored Rogers State 13-1.
 
St. Edward's is currently riding a six-game winning streak as it moves to 22-7 overall and 6-2 in the Heartland Conference. Rogers State falls to 16-10 and 3-5, with one more game to play against the Hilltoppers.
 
"It doesn't matter who we're playing. We have to win series," said head coach Rob Penders. "They're a good team, and they're above .500. That's tough to do at any level. Any time you can win, especially in conference, it's going to help out a bunch. Today really sets up our pitching for tomorrow with Collin (Sherrod) going six innings in game one, and a complete game, you can't ask for much more."
 
Game One: St. Edward's 9, Rogers State 1
 
With a strong wind blowing in from the north, prospects on offense were marginal. However, it only took the Hilltoppers one inning to get on the board.
 
In the bottom of the second, a pitch hit GABLE WHITACRE, and Lerick brought him in with a triple to right field that was blown away from the outfielder. Courson followed that with a single to right-center, giving St. Edward's an early 2-0 lead.
 
Courson added to his RBI total in the bottom of the third with a misplayed, bloop single that plated Whitacre and Arrowood.
 
Rogers State cut into St. Edward's 4-0 lead with a run in the fourth. However, the Hilltoppers blew it wide open in the bottom half with five runs on a pair of hits and a Hillcat error.
 
After back-to-back batters were hit by pitches, Arrowood and ROMEO CORTINA teamed up to bring in four more runs. Lerick capped the scoring with a groundout RBI.
 
No more offense came to light, but no more was needed as COLLIN SHERROD and the Hilltopper defense held the Hillcats at bay. Sherrod pitched six complete innings and struck out six before BRYCE DAVIS came in for the hold.
 
Davis pitched a complete inning of shutout baseball with only one walk, helping Sherrod earn his seventh win of the season.
 
Game Two: St. Edward's 4, Rogers State 0
 
After the run production in game one, despite the windy conditions, game two turned into a defensive battle.
 
The Hilltoppers scored one in the opening frame on an Arrowood ground ball to second base. They grabbed a second run in the third on a ground ball from Lerick. A pair of runs in the fourth came off one swing of the bat by JOSEPH OLSON, scoring NATE TURNER and KEVIN MAYO.
 
Stanton and St. Edward's defense shouldered the rest of the work. The Hilltoppers sat down Rogers State's first 12 batters before the visitor's fist hit came in the fifth. The Hillcats made it back-to-back singles, but a double play, and three strikeouts by Stanton canceled out all the offensive efforts by Rogers State.
 
Coach Penders and his team look to complete the series sweep on Friday at 11 a.m. in a nine-inning contest. Live stats and video of the game will be available at GoHilltoppers.com.