Photo Gallery vs. Texas A&M-Kingsville (NCAA Regional Tournament)

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – St. Edward's Baseball won its first-round NCAA Tournament game against Texas A&M-Kingsville, 8-4 on Thursday afternoon at Sam Suplizio Field. It is the first NCAA Tournament win for the Hilltoppers since their 2013 trip to the College World Series.
 
ERIC HESTER earned his 10^th win of the season with another quality start. He went six innings with five strikeouts, and only gave up three runs on eight hits. The Hilltopper pitching staff now has three 10-game winners.
 
"I felt like I pitched well, but it was the defense that came up big," said Hester. "(Kevin) Mayo and (Wesley) Harris saved two runs in the sixth, and that was big for us to hold onto our lead."
 
Also shining on the mound was ANDREW BOES who earned his third save of the season. The Texas State transfer struck out two while pitching 1.1 innings of flawless baseball. STUART SPRINGER and CAM HATCH provided middle relief, surrendering just one run with three strikeouts.
 
At the plate, J.D. ARROWOOD, ROMEO CORTINA, and GABLE WHITACRE all hit home runs, brining the team total to 65 this season. Harris finished his day a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate, extending his reached-base streak to 34 games. NATE TURNER and Whitacre both tallied two hits each. Arrowood and Whitacre combined for five RBI.
 
St. Edward's is now 44-10 on the year, matching its win total from the 2013 season when they advanced to the NCAA Division II College World Series. Texas A&M-Kingsville falls to 34-18, and is just one loss away from elimination.
 
"It was obviously a hard-fought battle. They kept coming after us, and we were fortunate to get ahead," said head coach Rob Penders. "To score four runs with two outs was something we've been able to do all year, and it was great to see us do it one more time. After the eighth, the game was pretty much over with our closer coming in. We're looking forward to tomorrow, and glad we are 1-0 instead of 0-1."
 
Each team took a game off each other in the regular season, and game three did not disappoint. St. Edward's got on the board first in the bottom of the second as DYLAN WATTS came around to score on a double by Whitacre that was bobbled by the Javelinas' left fielder.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, the Hilltoppers showed their ability to score with two outs. Harris singled to the shortstop, and JOSEPH OLSON followed up with a base hit to centerfield. With two runners on base, Arrowood stepped to the plate and launched a home run well over the fence in right field to make it 4-0, Hilltoppers. ROMEO CORTINA followed with a homer of his own to right-center field for a 5-0 advantage. This is the third time this season that Cortina and Arrowood have tallied a long ball in the same inning.
 
The Javelinas battled back in the top of the sixth, using a single and a hit batter to put two runners on with nobody out. A three-run home run by Jimmy Roche cut the Hilltoppers' lead to two. However, Hester and St. Edward's defense worked out of it with no more damage.
 
Another home run for TAMU-Kingsville in the seventh made it 5-4. In the eighth they threatened again, but Hatch and Boes shut down the rally to keep it a one-run advantage.
 
Whitacre led off the eighth with a solo home run to left field. That sparked a three-run inning, giving the Hilltoppers a four-run cushion.  The rest was history. Boes came back out in the ninth and clinched the win by striking out the final Javelina batter.
 
Coach Penders and his team now await the result of game three between West Texas A&M and Angelo State. The Hilltoppers will face the winner of that game on Friday at 8 p.m. (CT). Live stats and video of the game will be available at GoHilltoppers.com.