AUSTIN, Texas – St. Edward's celebrated seniors ALEXIS MASSIE, MCKENNA LEAMON, JORDAN NEELY, RENNA TOOMEY, YVONNE CASTILLO, and MADDY LARSON in their final home games but couldn't stop Texas-Tyler's two-month win streak in a pair of losses.
Game 1: Texas-Tyler 9, St. Edward's 2
St. Edward's took a brief lead in the first inning when Texas-Tyler starting pitcher Shea O'Leary walked ARIANNA VIDALES to lead off the bottom of the inning. First, KATIE DILLON moved Vidales into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Then, JERZIE PELHAM put St. Edward's a single up the middle, with Vidales scoring when JT Smith bobbled the ball in center field.
The left side of the Hilltopper defense was spectacular in the second. First, LAUREN HOYT showcased her range by tracking down a shot hit up sharply up the middle, sprinting to make the grab and twirling throw to first against her momentum for the first out. Then, third baseman Massie bookended a pair of walks with great glovework in the short corner.
Texas-Tyler broke through in the third with a leadoff single on a line drive blasted at Massie, giving the senior little time to do anything besides get her glove up to deflect the shot. Then, Sam Schott moved her over with a sacrifice bunt. After that, Leamon ran into control issues against a narrow strike zone after walking back-to-back hitters and plunking Avery Farr to tie the game.
St. Edward's mitigated the damage with back-to-back outs to get out of the inning.
The Hilltoppers put two on to open the bottom of the third. However, Texas-Tyler third baseman Michelle Arias made a diving catch to field a sacrifice bunt attempt by Massie before it hit the ground, popping up and throwing Pelham out on the run back to first. Then, Neely lined out to left field.
The game remained time until the fifth when the Patriots plated two runs. Courtney Plocheck and Arias opened the inning with back-to-back singles. Then, after relief pitcher Toomey replaced Leamon, Texas-Tyler scored two runs on an error for the 3-1 lead. St. Edward's responded with a run in the bottom of the inning, getting a leadoff single up the middle from ARIANNA VIDALES, and Pelham singled up the middle, scoring Vidales.
Texas-Tyler broke the game open with its biggest inning of the series, scoring five runs in the sixth with a two-RBI single from Plocheck, then an RBI single from Farr. The Patriots scored two more off an error before KYLEN PADGETT replaced Toomey and struck out Melton to end the inning. Texas-Tyler scored its ninth run on a wild pitch in the seventh.
St. Edward's put two on with a single and walk to open the seventh before Texas-Tyler retired the next three hitters to end the game.
Game 2: Texas-Tyler 3, St. Edward's 0
Texas-Tyler scored two runs in the first and kept St. Edward's at bay, pulling away with a 3-0 victory to sweep the series.
JT Smith opened the game with a leadoff double off St. Edward's starting pitcher CADIE BELLE CURRIE, then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Then, Sam Schott walked to put runners on the corners before Plocheck struck out swinging. Texas-Tyler struck first when Smith scored on a throw from home to second that sent Schott back to first on a steal attempt.
Farr drove in another run on a groundout to third for the 2-0 lead.
Vidales gave St. Edward's its first hit in the third but was left stranded. GABI LOPEZ had a leadoff single to right in the fifth, but the Patriots retired the next three hitters in order.
St. Edward's threatened with runners on the corners in the sixth, but ALEXIS MASSIE went down swinging to end the inning. Texas-Tyler got a leadoff trope from Smith in the seventh, scoring on a sacrifice fly. St. Edward's was retired in order in the seventh.
The Hilltoppers drop to 25-23 with a 19-20 conference record. St. Edward's will close out the regular season next weekend with a three-game road series against Midwestern State.
