AUSTIN, Texas – St. Edward's baseball opened its series against Oklahoma Christian with a big 14-1 win in seven innings behind overpowering performances from starting pitcher WESLEY GAFFORD and first baseman LANCE LITTLE.
Gafford (5-2) posted one of his best performances of the season, recording a season-high 13 strikeouts with just two hits, a walk, and one run surrendered in six innings of work to secure his fifth win. The 6-foot-7 senior set the tone in the first inning, striking out two while retiring the side in order.
Gafford followed up with another three strikeouts against four batters in the second inning, surrendering a solo home run to Ethan Box for the lone Oklahoma Christian run of the game.
Little provided more than enough run support in the bottom of the first, delivering a three-run blast to score TREVOR SEBEK and CONNOR COX, who reached on an error and a single.
St. Edward's added four more runs in the second inning on five hits. WESTON SYMES led off with a single to center field, stole second, then advanced to third on a wild pitch after Sebek flied out to center field. Cox drove Symes in on a sacrifice fly to right field, and then Little blasted his second home run of the day.
CULLEN AINSWORTH followed with a single, then advanced to second on a wild pitch, scoring on LUKE JOHNSON's RBI double to left center to end starting pitcher Chris Jones's afternoon. JOSH GRAHAM welcomed relief pitcher Brendon Bavester with an RBI single for the 7-1 lead.
Gafford retired the side in order in the third and fourth innings, striking out three more, and St. Edward's added a run in the fourth when Ainsworth hit a one-out triple, and Johnson drove him in on a sacrifice fly.
Gafford struck out the side in the fifth and retired three of five hitters in the sixth, striking out two in his last inning of work.
The Hilltoppers added six more runs in the bottom of the sixth off two hits, two walks, to hit batters, and two errors. Johnson hit a leadoff double, Graham walked, and Giles reached on an error to load the bases.
DAVIS DREWEK made his return with a pinch-hitting appearance and was hit by a pitch to score Johnson. Symes scored Graham on a sacrifice fly, then Giles scored on an error that allowed Sebek to reach. Cox scored Drewek on a groundout to third, Little walked, Ainsworth was hit by a pitch, and RYAN FEDDERSEN pinch-hit for Johnson and scored Little on an infield single for the 14-1 lead.
SETH TAYLOR took the mound for St. Edward's to start the seventh and retired the side in order.
Little continues his recent power surge with a 2-for-3 performance, hitting two home runs, driving in four runs, walking twice, and scoring three times. Sebek, Ainsworth, and Graham also had two hits each, combining for four RBI and seven runs.
St. Edward's improves to 24-6 with a 22-6 conference record. The Hilltoppers and Eagles will resume the series tomorrow with a doubleheader at noon.
