AUSTIN, Texas – ERIC HESTER entered the game in emergency relief for No. 6 St. Edward's Baseball, and proceeded to pitch five innings of one-run relief as the Hilltoppers took down 15^th-ranked Lubbock Christian, 5-2, on Friday afternoon at Lucian-Hamilton Field.
 
An injury to St. Edward's ace pitcher COLLIN SHERROD forced Hester to enter the game with no warm-up, two runners on base, no outs, and a 3-1 count. However, the senior hurler was unfazed. He worked out of the inning with minimal damage, and finished the game with seven strikeouts and the win. Hester is now 4-2 on the season and owns the 7^th-best strikeout-to-walk ratio in the country.
 
At the plate, the Hilltoppers spread things out evenly with eight batters recording a hit, and four individuals scoring. NATE TURNER turned in the only multi-hit effort with a 2-for-3 day at the plate and one run scored. ROMEO CORTINA dazzled yet again by hitting a powerful home run with the wind blowing in, his ninth of the year.
 
With the win, St. Edward's extends its winning streak to eight, and is now 24-7 overall and 8-2 in the Heartland Conference. The Chaparrals are now 20-9 and 6-4.
 
"These are two really good teams playing right now. As far as NCAA Division II Baseball goes, it doesn't get much higher level than this," said head coach Rob Penders. "As you saw in this game, one little thing can make the difference. They gave us a couple runs, and that's the difference in the game. We were able to capitalize on a couple mistakes, and they made a couple more than we did."
 
Offense was at a premium to start the game with a combined two base runners in the first two and a half innings. However, the Hilltoppers changed all that in the bottom of the third.
 
KEVIN MAYO reached on a fielding error, and NATE TURNER followed up with a single past the shortstop. JOSEPH OLSON capitalized on the mistake and drove in Mayo with a hit up the middle. J.D. ARROWOOD made it 2-0 by plating Turner with a single to center field.
 
The home team added two more in the fourth on a RBI-single from GABLE WHITACRE, and a double play turned bad for the Chaps. WESLEY HARRIS put a ball in play with the bases loaded. After getting the runner at home, Lubbock Christian's catcher airmailed the ball over the first baseman. Mayo scored again to make it 4-0.
 
Lubbock Christian grabbed two runs in the fifth after COLLIN SHERROD was force to exit early. Sherrod pitched four innings and only gave up one run and four hits.
 
Cortina responded in the fifth with his solo home run down the left field line. Despite a strong wind blowing across the outfield, the ball hooked inside the foul pole to make the final tally.
 
Rain forced Friday's contest to be change into a single, nine-inning game. The Hilltoppers and Chaps will wrap up their series on Saturday with a doubleheader at noon. Live stats and video will be available at GoHilltoppers.com.