ODESSA, Texas – St. Edward's softball's third game against Texas Permian Basin was almost a mirror image of the previous day's second game, right down to the identical 7-6 score in the Hilltoppers' win.
This time, RENNA TOOMEY got the start, and Cadie Bell Currie finished for the save. Toomey went four innings, striking out three with four of her five runs surrendered earned off five hits and two walks.
St. Edward's provided plenty of run support for its senior pitcher early, scoring five in the first inning. ARIANNA VIDALES opened the game with a leadoff single up the middle, KATIE DILLON drew a walk, and JERZIE PELHAM followed with an infield single to load the bases.
The Hilltoppers caught a break when UTPB dropped ALEXIS MASSIE's fly ball to the pitcher's circle, allowing Vidales to score. ELLA HUTZLER followed with a sacrifice fly to center field, moving Pelham to third and scoring Dillon. After Massie stole second base, JORDAN NEELY blasted a two-RBI double to right center, ending UTPB starting pitcher Abby Cousins' day.
Destini Trahan replaced her and got LAUREN HOYT to pop up, but walked MEGAN MORRIS, hit HAILEY SONKA, and walked Vidales to score another run before getting out of the inning.
Toomey walked Emily Andress with one out, and Cheyenne Marquez drove her in with a two-run home run out to center field.
Both teams went scoreless until the fourth when another error and walk set up an ELLA HUTZLER RBI single to left field, then Neely walked with bases loaded for the 7-2 lead.
Texas Permian Basin's Angelina Arriaga cut into the deficit with an RBI double to left center, scoring Aracely Araiza, who singled to right. The Falcons scored three runs in the fifth to pull within one.
Keri Sanford sparked UTPB with a leadoff single, then Andress walked, ending Toomey's afternoon. KYLEN PADGETT replaced her and struck out Marquez, but Kelsey Valo reached on an error to load the bases. Mia Quintero followed with an RBI infield single, then Taylen Thurman fouled out to deep right field, scoring Andress on the sacrifice fly.
Padgett then walked Araiza and Arriaga, plating another run for the Falcons. Currie replaced Padgett and struck out Aubree Beggs to end the inning. Currie then retired three of four in the seventh to end the game and preserve the win.
St. Edward's improves to 25-20 with a 19-17 conference record, tied for eighth in the Lone Star Conference with St. Mary's, who own the tiebreaker. The Hilltoppers will host Texas-Tyler this weekend with a 2:00 p.m. game on Friday and noon doubleheader on Saturday.
