GOODWELL, Okla. – St. Edward's senior shortstop WESLEY HARRIS started in the leadoff spot for the 22^nd time this season, and proceeded to go 3-for-5, completing a nine-hit weekend, as the Hilltoppers finished a three-game sweep of Panhandle State with an 11-4 win.
 
Harris also scored twice, and drove in a pair of runs. He has now reached base in 24-straight games. JOSEPH OLSON and J.D. ARROWOOD also joined Harris with three-hit days, as the top three spots in the Hilltopper lineup combined to go 9-for-16. NICK LERICK jumped on the multi-hit train with a pair of base knocks as well. St. Edward's had a total of seven individuals cross the plate with six Hilltoppers combining to drive them in.
 
On the mound, STUART SPRINGER got the start, but made an early exit. CAM HATCH came on to get the win with 2.1 innings of two-hit, one-run relief. Hatch is now 1-1 with two saves. A total of five Hilltoppers appeared on the mound and worked nine strikeouts against the Aggies.
 
St. Edward's is now 34-10 overall and first place in the Heartland Conference with a 17-4 league record. Panhandle State falls to 5-38 and 1-20.
 
"A sweep was the goal coming into this weekend, and we are happy to get it," said head coach Rob Penders. "We took great at-bats all weekend, up and down the lineup. That approach really paid off today. The wind really changed the park today, and made it very difficult for the hitters. Our guys made the adjustments needed, and got the job done. Hatch came into a pressure situation in the fourth, and got us out of the jam. That gave us the momentum, and led to the win."
 
After yesterday's blowouts, Saturday's contest started with a very different tone. The Hilltoppers scored first in the opening frame on a RBI-single from Arrowood. They made it 3-0 in the second thanks to a single up the middle by Harris, and a fielder's choice RBI for Arrowood.
 
However, unlike the first two games, Panahandle State responded early, and stuck around. A run in the second came after a fielding error by the Hilltoppers, and two more runs in the third tied the game at three.
 
In the fourth, Panhandle State threatened by loading the bases, but Hatch came in to save the tie. He worked a ground ball for a double play, and then struck out the final batter to send the game into the fifth, still tied at three.
 
Hatch's performance was the spark St. Edward's needed. GABLE WHITACRE, Lerick, and KEVIN MAYO opened the fifth with three-straight hits, including an RBI-single from Mayo to break the tie, and the Hilltoppers were just getting started. NATE TURNER reloaded the bases before the Aggies looked to the bullpen. However, the pitching change did nothing. Harris singled, scoring Lerick, and Olson did the same to plate Mayo. ROMEO CORTINA capped off the four-run, five-hit fifth with a sacrifice fly to center field.
 
A four-run cushion allowed St. Edward's to cruise to victory. The Aggies scored one in the sixth, but the Hilltoppers added four more runs of insurance in the seventh, with Harris, Arrowood, Cortina, and Whitacre all crossing the plate.
 
Coach Penders and his squad remain road warriors for their next series at Texas A&M-International this Friday. The three-game set will open with a doubleheader on Friday, followed by a single game on Saturday. Live coverage will be available at GoHilltoppers.com.