CONROE, Texas – MEGAN MORRIS hit an RBI double in the top of the third inning to lead the St. Edward's Hilltoppers softball team past the four-time defending Great American Conference champion Arkansas Tech in a 1-0 victory.
"The final game of the weekend was a great pitcher's duel," St. Edward's head softball coach Leah Glasgow says. "Cadie put on a great performance, and the team played stellar defense behind her. We had a great diving catch by KATIE DILLON in the seventh to win the game."
The Golden Suns rolled through most of its Lone Star Conference opponents in the DII Spring Invitational, going 3-1 with a big 7-3 win over No. 18-ranked Angelo State heading into Sunday's contest. On Saturday, the Hilltoppers showed they could compete with nationally-ranked opponents, defeating No. 13 Augustana before a win over Humboldt for an identical 3-1 record.
Both teams put on an impressive defensive performance, surrendering little in the way of hits or walks in a stalemate that came down to who could capitalize on the first mistake.
CADIE BELLE CURRIE (W, 2-0) set the tone in the first inning, striking out two of the first three hitters she faced on the way to a complete-game shutout with four strikeouts and only two hits allowed. Currie surrendered a leadoff single in the bottom of the second inning but got a stellar defensive play from ELLA HUTZLER at first on Makenzie Goins' line drive, turning it into an unassisted double play as the first of two consecutive three-up, three-down innings.
ARIANNA VIDALES reach first on a fielding error with one out in the top of the third inning. The slight Golden Sun misstep was enough for St. Edward's to find a foothold to victory.
The Hilltoppers continued their aggressive baserunning, with Vidales stealing second to get into scoring position. Morris followed by driving the first pitch into left-center to score Vidales before being thrown out at third trying to stretch a double into a triple.
Currie retired the side in order in the fifth inning and three of four in the fourth and sixth innings. She walked Williams with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, but KATIE DILLON made a spectacular catch at third to preserve the shutout victory.
"I'm really proud of our team this weekend. They brought a lot of excitement, energy, and passion to the game," Glasgow says. "I look forward to seeing how they develop as a group this season."
Morris led the Hilltopper offense this weekend, hitting 8-for-16 with two runs scored, four stolen bases, and six RBIs, including a walk-off single against Pittsburg State. Currie went 2-0 in three appearances, striking out 16 in 15 innings pitched.
St. Edward's opens the season on a four-game winning streak after dropping its first game to No. 8 Central Oklahoma. The Hilltoppers will host the Metropolitan State University of Denver for a doubleheader on Wednesday, Feb. 8, starting at noon.
