AUSTIN – St. Edward's split a doubleheader with St. Mary's to open a Heartland Conference series on Thursday at Lucian-Hamilton Field. The Hilltoppers won the opener 4-2, but the Rattlers bounced back to even the set with a 1-0 win in the nightcap.
The two teams will close out the series with the rubber game at 1 p.m. Friday.
GAME ONE RECAP
RYAN HILL struck out four and gave up only one earned run and came within one out of pitching a complete game to lead St. Edward's to a 4-2 win in the opening game of the series.
Hill (6-3) scattered six hits and only hit a bit of trouble in the third inning. He retired the first two batters of the seventh, but then walked one and gave up a single before handing the ball over to the bullpen.
JAYSON FLORES came on and induced a fly ball to end the game and loc down his third save of the season.
The Hilltoppers scored three runs in the second.
ZACH SCHINDLER and
NATHAN MEDRANO both logged run-scoring hits in the frame, while
RYAN MCPHAIL laid down a bunt that allowed
TY MARKEE to slide home safely for the third run.
St. Edward's added one more in the fifth as Markee tripled to right field, allowing
ZACH SHEPHERD to score from second base.
GAME TWO RECAP
Mason Minister allowed only two hits and struck out five in a complete-game shutout for St. Mary's.
The right-hander did not give up a hit until
JAKE HAHN led off the fifth inning with a single to left field.
BLAKE HOLUB added a single in the final stanza, but the Hilltoppers were unable to get the tying run across the plate.
The Rattlers scored the game's only run in the second inning, as Jake Mares singled to left field and Mario Vela was sent home from second base.
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