SAN ANGELO, Texas – The St. Edward's Softball team ran into a buzz saw Wednesday evening as it dropped a pair of games to a hot-hitting Angelo State squad in non-conference action at Mayer Field. The RamBelles hung on for a 6-3 win in the opening game and followed with a 15-2 victory in game two.
Game 1: Angelo State 6, St. Edward's 3
Angelo State (32-19) was able to push across a run in the second inning off of starting pitcher
LAUREN SLATTEN. The Hilltopper righthander kept the game at 1-0 through the first three innings.
St. Edward's (23-22) was able to get a runner on in each of the first five innings, but came up empty each time.
The RamBelles were able to score another run in the fourth inning and broke the game wide open in the fifth with four runs. Angelo State got runs off of a walk and a hit by pitch with the bases loaded to help build the 6-0 lead.
St. Edward's picked up two runs in the seventh inning as
MELINA SANCHEZ and
MEGAN HOFFMAN singled. Two runners would come in to score on a three-base error by the RamBelle defense for the final margin.
Slatten got the loss to drop to 16-10 on the season. Hoffman was the batting leader, going 3-for-3 in game one.
Game 2: Angelo State 15, St. Edward's 2
In game two, it was all Angelo State. However, the Hilltoppers got on the scoreboard first.
ALEX MAYFIELD led off the inning with a single up the middle. She then swiped her conference-leading 25 base of the season. Dufour reached on an Angelo State error. With two outs, Mayfield and Dufour came in to score on an infield single by
SHELBI ROOHMS for an early 2-0 lead.
Angelo State would answer in the bottom of the first inning with two runs of its own. They then turned on the gas, scoring in every inning to run-rule the Hilltoppers, 15-2.
"Every team is going to have an off day here and there," head coach Lindsay Gardner said. "Unfortunately, today was one of those days. Individually, we did some good things at the plate and on defense, but, overall as a team, we need to come together as we approach post-season play. We've got to do a better job of forcing outs and making the other team earn its way on the bases."
St. Edward's will now return to Heartland Conference play as they travel to face Rogers State. The three-game series will be the last regular season tune-up for St. Edward's before the Heartland Conference Tournament, hosted by St. Mary's. The two teams will meet in a twilight doubleheader on Friday starting at 4 p.m. They will follow with a single game on Saturday at noon. Live video and stats will be available on the Hilltopper Athletic Website.
