Box Score OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – St. Edward's softball earned a 5-3 win over Lubbock Christian Thursday in game one of the Lone Star Conference Championship.
 
St. Edward's wasted no time getting on the board, taking advantage of a Chap error on LAUREN WERNING's plate appearance, scoring ALEXIS MASSIE and VALERIE BRANT.
 
Lubbock Christian loaded the bases in response in the bottom of the first on MCKENNA LEAMON and pushed one across before LAUREN JARESH entered in relief to get out of the jam with the Hilltopper lead intact, 2-1.
 
The Chaps took the lead in the bottom half of the second off an inside the park homerun, scoring two. Herrera's shot careened hard off the left field fence and away from any Hilltopper outfielders, allowing Herrera to circle the bases and scoring one more to put LCU up 3-2.
 
Back-to-back bunt singles by KATHRYN CONNELLY and GENISA MARRERO-CARTER opened the third inning on a high note for the Hilltoppers. Werning again came through with a 2-RBI double to left, scoring Connelly and Marrero-Carter to hand the lead back over to SEU, 4-3 in the third.
 
A scoreless fourth gave way to another Hilltopper run in the fifth as Brant's sacrifice fly to center scored Marrero-Carter, extending the St. Edward's lead to two, 5-3.
 
The game rolled into the bottom of the seventh with SEU maintaining a two-run lead, but LCU wouldn't go down without a fight, getting the game-tying run on first with no outs. CADIE BELLE CURRIE entered to close out the win and got a sacrifice bunt for the first out but moved the runners into scoring position.
 
Gibbs made Currie work, working to a full count and fouling off numerous pitches before popping up to second base for the second out. With just one more out to capture to secure the win, Currie took matters into her own hands and got Riggs to strikeout swinging.
 
Marrero-Carter led at the plate, going 3-24 with two runs scored while Werning was 1-3 with two big RBIs.
 
Jaresh earned the win, allowing two runs on three hits with six strikeouts. Currie secured the save, her second of the season.
 
The Hilltoppers improve to 17-20 on the year and remain alive in the LSC Championship. They advance to face the #2 seed, Angelo State, at 4 pm.