AUSTIN - The St. Edward's pitching staff was outstanding against Lubbock Christian Friday, posting 16 strikeouts in a 5-1 win, tying for the second most in a single game in Hilltopper baseball history. 
 
CHASE COS opened the scoring for the Hilltoppers in the first, crushing a solo homerun over the left field fence to put SEU up 1-0. 
 
Starting pitcher BLAKE HOLUB was fully in control early and was able to get out of a loaded bases jam in the fourth with back-to-back strikeouts. 
 
In the bottom half of the inning, SEU responded by loading the bases as well with one out. ERIC WORDEN drove one run home with a hard hit ball to first base, scoring Cos, but that is all the Hilltoppers could manage to lead 2-0 through four. 
 
With one out in the sixth, CULLEN AINSWORTH added to SEU's lead, blasting the first pitch he saw over the left field fence. DAVIS DREWEK followed suit with two outs but this time to right center and Cos added an RBI single, putting the Hilltoppers up 5-0 at the end of six.
 
The Chaps were able to push one across in the eighth off reliever JAYSON FLORES, but AG AYALA entered to retire the side and keep the lead intact and close out the win.
 
Cos led at the plate, going 2-3 with 2 RBIs while Ainsworth went 2-2 with one RBI and two walks. Holub earned the win on the mound, scattering five hits and three walks with 12 strikeouts. Ayala got the save, his first of the season, with four strikeouts and just one hit in 1.2 innings.
 
The Hilltoppers improve to 6-11 on the year and 6-10 in Lone Star Conference play. The series continues on Saturday at 1 pm.