AUSTIN – The St. Edward's baseball team split a doubleheader with Oklahoma Christian to open Heartland Conference play on Friday at Lucian-Hamilton Field. The Hilltoppers walked off the Eagles in 10 innings to win the opener, 3-2, while Oklahoma Christian used a four-run seventh to win the nightcap, 9-7.

The rubber match will be played at 1 p.m. Sunday.

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GAME ONE RECAP
Oklahoma Christian starter Gabe Rodery pitched six shutout innings before running into any trouble against the St. Edward's lineup.

With one out in the seventh inning, ROBBIE LAMMONS laced a triple down the right-field line and JACOB JOHNSON hit a sacrifice fly to left field that allowed him to cross the plate to tie the game.

The Eagles took a 2-1 advantage in the top of the ninth inning as Hunter Markwardt hit a solo home run.

Following a pitching change in the bottom of the frame, Lammons reached on fielding error that started the rally for the Hilltoppers. Johnson followed with a single to right field that pushed Lammons around to third base. JAKE HAHN was called on to pinch-hit and he delivered with a sacrifice fly that sent Lammons plateward to tie the contest.

With two outs in the bottom of the 10th, St. Edward's loaded the bases with back-to-back-to-back walks. Hahn again stepped the plate and hit a popup to left field that landed safely in fair territory. TY MARKEE, who came on as a pinch runner, scored the winning run for the 'Toppers.

JAYSON FLORES (1-1) received the win after pitching two scoreless frames in relief. Flores also struck out two of the seven batters he faced.

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GAME TWO RECAP
St. Edward's hit three solo home runs and held a 6-5 advantage through six innings. However, Oklahoma Christian scored four times in the seventh to take a 9-6 lead.

Johnson walked to open the bottom of the seventh inning for the Hilltoppers. BLAKE HOLUB followed with a single and Lammons recorded a sacrifice fly to score Johnson and cut the lead to two.

However, Hayden Barber retired the next two batters to secure the win and even the series.

St. Edward's posted eight hits in the nightcap, led by Holub's 3 for 4 performance that included a homer and two RBIs. MORGAN ALLEN and CHASE FONTANA also hit long balls for the 'Toppers.