KINGSVILLE – JACOB VASQUEZ homered on the first pitch of the game, setting the tone, but it was ZANE PHELPS' three-run round-tripper in the fifth inning that put St. Edward's on top for good en route to an 8-6 victory over Texas A&M-Kingsville on Friday evening at Nolan Ryan Field.

The Hilltoppers (8-7, 8-7 LSC), who have won seven consecutive games, pounded out 11 hits, including three for extra bases in the Lone Star Conference series-opening triumph. TY MARKEE was 3 for 5 with a double, while Vasquez, DANTE GUTIERREZ and MORGAN ALLEN posted two hits apiece.

After Vasquez homered on the first pitch he saw, the Javelinas responded with five runs in the bottom of the second.

St. Edward's pulled within one in the third after scoring three times. The 'Toppers loaded the bases before Gutierrez was hit by a pitch that pushed Vasquez across the plate. Markee then placed a double down the left-field line that scored two to cut the lead to 5-4.

With two outs in the fifth, Gutierrez started another rally with a single to center field. Markee hit first pitch of his at-bat for a double that pushed Gutierrez over to third base. Phelps then turned on a 1-2 offering and hammered a three-run shot that put SEU on top, 7-6.

The Hilltoppers added an insurance run in the eighth.

Vasquez reached on a fielder's choice and then moved to second after DYLAN MACKIN was hit by a pitch. Following a fly out, Gutierrez delivered again with a single to left, allowing Vasquez to slide safely across the dish.

The Javelinas (9-6, 9-6 LSC) had two runners on base with one out in the bottom of the eighth. Vasquez then took the mound. He balked allowing the runners to move up and then walked the first batter he faced to load the bases. However, Vasquez coaxed a double play ball off Giancarlo Servin's bat to quell the threat.

Vasquez walked the first batter of the ninth, but then induced another grounder that turned into a double play and then retired the final batter on a fly out.

Vasquez earned his second save of the year, while AG AYALA (1-0) received the win in relief. The southpaw hurled two scoreless panels.

The series will continue Saturday with a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.




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