OKLAHOMA CITY – Seventh-inning heroics pushed the St. Edward's Hilltoppers softball team past the No. 19-ranked Oklahoma Christian Eagles, taking the regular-season series 2-1 after the 5-4 victory. 

There were echoes of both previous games, with ARIANNA VIDALES delivering a clutch triple and St. Edward's miscues leading to unearned Oklahoma Christian runs. The biggest throughline, however, is the Hilltoppers' resiliency. 

St. Edward's opened the game with back-to-back singles from ARIANNA VIDALES and GABI LOPEZ but left both stranded to end the top of the first inning. The Hilltoppers left seven runners on overall, belying the Hilltoppers' offensive output with nine hits. 

Oklahoma Christian broke through in the bottom of the third. Kelsey Gammage grounded out to open the inning, but Brooklyn Bain sparked the Eagles with a single up the middle, followed by two walks to load the bases. 

St. Edward's almost got out of the inning unscathed when Aaliyah Brown grounded to third, with ALEXIS MASSIE making the play to the plate for the force out. However, GABI LOPEZ overthrew first on the subsequent double-play attempt, scoring two unearned runs. Kristen Whitehouse followed with an RBI double before the Hilltoppers got out of the inning. 

Bain added another run for Oklahoma Christian in the fourth with a two-out RBI single, scoring Gammage, who reached on a double to right-center. 

RENNA TOOMEY cut St. Edward's deficit in half in the fifth inning, ripping a two-RBI double to left-center with two outs and the bases loaded to score KATIE DILLON and Vidales. 

Oklahoma Christian put two on with one out after two walks in the bottom of the sixth, but Karsyn Iltis lined into a double play, with LAUREN HOYT making the catch and throw to second.

Dillon opened the seventh inning with a leadoff walk, and Vidales followed with her second RBI triple in two days, driving the ball to left-center. Then, after Lopez went down swinging, MEGAN MORRIS hit an infield single to put two on for Toomey, who drove Vidales and Morris in with a double to center field for the 5-4 lead. 

St. Edward's retired three of the final four Oklahoma Christian hitters to preserve the victory. 

"It was great to see our team show up offensively this series," St. Edward's head softball coach Leah Glasgow says. "Ari has been a calm presence at the plate and utilized her speed to put pressure on the defense. And RENNA TOOMEY came through late in the game with her last two at-bats bringing in four RBIs, which was what pushed us through for the win today." 

Vidales hit 2-for-3 with a walk drawn, an RBI, and a run scored. Toomey finished 2-for-4 with four RBIs, and Morris hit 2-for-4 with a run scored. 

"The team was able to push through adversity this week, and I'm really proud of their resiliency," Glasgow says. 

The two wins over Oklahoma Christian mark the second time St. Edward's has defeated a nationally-ranked opponent this season. The Hilltoppers previously defeated Augustana, who was ranked No. 13 at the time.

St. Edward's improves to 9-6 with a 3-3 conference record. The Hilltoppers will host Eastern New Mexico this Saturday and Sunday in a three-game series with the doubleheader on Saturday.