AUSTIN – St. Edward's baseball had twice as many hits as Oklahoma Christian in the series finale, but allowed nine walks to fall 7-6 Monday.
After a quiet first inning, OC pushed two across in the second and St. Edward's responded with an RBI single to right field by
ZARIAN FORDE to drive home
JAKE HAHN who reached with a one out double.
An Eagle homerun in the third extended OC's lead to 4-1, but Hahn had the magic again in response in the bottom half of the inning with a two-out double to drive home
CHASE COS and
BLAKE HOLUB and cut the deficit to one, 4-3.
Another homerun to right center for the Eagles in the fourth extended OC's lead back to three, 6-3. SEU got things rolling again in the sixth, putting runners on first and second with one out to force a pitching change.
MORGAN ALLEN brought home one with a bloop single to center field, but that is as many as the Hilltoppers could push across to trail by two heading into the seventh.
A bomb to centerfield off the fence by
CULLEN AINSWORTH brought home Cos in the seventh, pulling the Hilltoppers within one, 6-5.
OC added one more run in the eighth before St. Edward's responded and started knocking at the Eagles' door.
KYLER KERLIN doubled and was brought home on
TRENT ROSENAUER's sacrifice fly. Cos's bloop single allowed Allen to move into scoring position with two outs, prompting OC to bring out their closer. Bates was able to get Holub to ground out for the final out of the inning, ending the threat.
With the bases loaded and two outs,
AUSTIN ESSEX entered to close the inning and keep SEU in the hunt for the win. Essex did just that, forcing a long fly ball to right field. With their last at bat, St. Edward's was able to get runners on the corner but couldn't score the equalizer.
WESLEY GAFFORD suffered the loss, allowing four runs on five hits with two strikeouts and one walk.
CULLEN AINSWORTH was perfect at the plate, going 2-2 with three walks, one RBI and one run scored.
The Hilltoppers drop to 4-8 on the year and 4-8 in Lone Star Conference play. They return to action on Friday, facing St. Mary's for the first of three games. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 pm.
