AUSTIN – St. Edward's baseball was ready for the challenge as they returned to the field Sunday under pristine weather to complete game one before heading into game two. SEU dropped the first game 13-9 but rebounded with a 7-5 win in game two.
 
GAME 1: SEU 9 – WT 13
 
After starting the game on Saturday where West Texas unloaded for eight runs in the first two innings, the Hilltoppers returned to the field and started to chip away at the deficit. St. Edward's posted four in the third and added runs in the fifth, seventh, and eighth to pull within four.
 
On two different occasions SEU had the bases loaded and were unable to push any runs across to really get within striking distance.
 
ERIC WORDEN was strong on the day. He allowed five hits and five runs with just two walks and seven strikeouts in 7.1 innings of work. CHASE COS was 6-3 in game one with two runs and one RBI.
 
GAME 2: SEU 7 – WT 5
 
The Buffaloes were first on the board again in game two, but St. Edward's refused to back down and continued to shine offensively. The Hilltoppers were able to take advantage of a WT error to score a pair of runs in the third, leading 2-1.
 
Back-to-back homeruns by West Texas followed by an RBI single handed the lead back to WT in the fourth, but with one swing of his bat MORGAN ALLEN evened the count with a two-RBI shot to left field in the fifth.
 
St. Edward's was able to work out of a bases loaded jam in the seventh, allowing just one run to score in the frame. SEU then got back to work at the plate and scored three runs to regain the lead 7-5.
 
Closer A.G. Ayala and the Hilltopper defense took care of the rest, including securing the final out on a perfectly executed pickoff at first base.
 
Starter WESLEY GAFFORD had a good outing, giving up four runs on eight hits with two walks and six strikeouts. Ayala earned the save, allowing just one hit and one walk with two strikeouts in two innings.
 
OMAR SURIEL, JR. led at the plate, going 2-4 with three runs scored while Allen ended with a 1-2 outing with three RBIs.
 
The Hilltoppers improve to 13-18 on the year and 12-16 in Lone Star Conference play. They will wrap up the series with West Texas on Monday for senior day at 1 pm.