KINGSVILLE, Texas – St. Edward's baseball swept its Saturday doubleheader against Texas A&M-Kingsville, defeating the Javelinas 8-5 and 20-2; scoring 20 runs for the first time since a 21-11 over St. Mary's in 2018.
Game 1: St. Edward's 8, Texas A&M-Kingsville 5
Leadoff hitter CARLO FIGUEROA was a perfect 3-for-3 with four RBIs and a run scored, and freshman designated hitter CONNOR COX picked up where he left off with another two-hit performance in an 8-5 win over Kingsville.
The Javelinas scored a pair of unearned runs in the first inning, but St. Edward's responded with five runs in their next at-bat.
Three of the first four Hilltoppers reached safely to start the second, setting up Figueroa's two-RBI double to center field. After KYLER KERLIN went down swinging, CULLEN AINSWORTH hit a two-RBI single, followed by LANCE LITTLE's RBI single to left field for the 5-2 lead.
Figueroa hit another two-RBI double in the third inning, scoring JOSH GRAHAM and Cox, who were hit by a pitch and walked to open the inning.
Kingsville scored three runs in the bottom of the third, getting a two-run blast over the right-field fence from Nick Wolff, then a sacrifice fly from Jake Chapman, scoring Steven Bonuz.
Cox added another run for St. Edward's with an RBI single in the fifth and the St. Edward's defense stranded three Javelinas in the sixth to shut down Kingsville's last threat.
Starting pitcher JACK GRANACK (W, 1-0) threw 5.0 innings, allowing six hits with two of his five surrendered runs unearned. AUSTIN ESSEX and SETH TAYLOR pitched in relief in a scoreless sixth inning, and JACK ENGELMANN picked up the save.
Game 2: St. Edward's 20, Texas A&M-Kingsville 2
Ainsworth and Little set the tone with back-to-back home runs with two outs in the top of the first as St. Edward's powered through Texas A&M-Kingsville.
The Hilltoppers were patient at the plate, drawing six walks and racking up 12 hits, including four home runs and two doubles.
After the two-run first inning. St. Edward's scored five in the second. The first four hitters reached safely, getting a two-RBI single up the middle from HUNTER CONNER. The Hilltoppers added another run on a throwing error, then got an RBI from Little and scored on a wild pitch.
St. Edward's loaded the bases to start the fourth, getting an RBI single from Ainsworth in the process. DAVIS DREWEK drove in TREVOR SEBEK on a fielder's choice, Ainsworth scored on a wild pitch, and LUKE JOHNSON and Conner hit back-to-back home runs as part of a seven-run fourth inning.
The Hilltoppers took advantage of three walks and two hit batters in the sixth inning, scoring six runs on three hits with no errors.
LUKE SHORT (W, 1-0) started on the mound for the Hilltoppers and three five scoreless innings, striking out nine with one hit and walk allowed. DANNY RODRIGUEZ took over in the sixth and allowed two runs, then NICOLAS DAVIS closed the seventh.
Conner hit 3-for-3 with three RBIs and three runs scored. Ainsworht hit 2-for-3 with two RBIs and three runs scored. Johnson was the other Hilltopper with more than one hit, going 2-for-3 with three RBIs and three runs scored.
"The guys came out and battled today. We had two great pitching performances by JACK GRANACK and LUKE SHORT. They pounded the zone and got out of jams when we needed to, and the defense made some great plays behind them," St. Edward's head baseball coach Bryan Faulds says. "The hitters were going into deep counts and the difference was two-out hitting in Game 1. The scoring started early in Game 2 and never stopped."
With the wins, St. Edward's is 3-0 with one more game in the series. St. Edward's and Texas A&M-Kingsville will wrap up the opening weekend with a Sunday game at 1:00 p.m.
