AUSTIN, Texas – The heart of the lineup overpowered Texas A&M International, but St. Edward's middle infielders put the finishing touches on Hilltopper baseball's 20-10 eight-inning victory to open the four-game series.
Shortstop WESTON SYMES and second baseman KYLER KERLIN drove in three RBIs each from the eighth and ninth spots in the lineup, including the final two runs to trigger the 10-run mercy rule.
Texas A&M International struck first, scoring on a Daniel Hernandez sacrifice fly after St. Edward's starting pitcher WESLEY GAFFORD (W, 7-3) loaded the bases with one out by hitting the leadoff hitter, surrendering a single to Joesph Cruz and walking Mario Chacon.
St. Edward's struck hardest, scoring seven runs in the third inning, highlighted by two home runs. CONNOR COX and LANCE LITTLE opened with back-to-back singles to center field, setting up DAVIS DREWEK's three-run blast to right. Then, CULLEN AINSWORTH caught the defense off guard by bunting for a single, followed by LUKE JOHNSON moving him over with a single to left, and MATTHEW GILES moving both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt.
Kerlin drove in the go-ahead run with a groundout to the shortstop, and Symes added another with an RBI single to right field. Finally, TREVOR SEBEK delivered a two-run home run for the 7-1 lead.
Texas A&M International's Ronnie Bailey put the Dustdevils back on the board with a leadoff home run in the fourth, but CULLEN AINSWORTH answered with a solo blast to left center in the bottom of the inning.
The Dustdevils pulled within three at 8-5 on a three-run home run by Cameron Stevenson in the fifth inning, but the Hilltoppers undid the damage with three runs in the fifth, scoring on an error and back-to-back RBI doubles from Cox and Little.
Kerlin just missed on his first home run of the season in the sixth, driving a hit to the center field wall for an RBI triple. Symes drove Kerlin in on a single up the middle with the infield playing in, and after Sebek singled through the right side, Cox scored Symes on a sacrifice fly.
After reliever AUSTIN ESSEX threw a scoreless sixth inning, NICOLAS DAVIS surrendered three runs in the seventh on a three-RBI double from Chacon before COLIN JACKSON replaced him to get out of the inning.
Giles pushed St. Edward's back up seven with an RBI single to right field, but Texas A&M International pulled back within five with two runs in the eighth.
Sebek sparked St. Edward's with a leadoff single in the bottom of the inning, and Cox drove him in with a home run to center field. Then, Little, Drewek, and Ainsworth walked to load the bases, and Little scored on a balk.
After RYAN FEDDERSEN lined out to first, Giles drew a walk to load the bases. Then, Kerlin drove in Drewek with a sacrifice fly to center field, and Symes ripped a walk-off single down the third-base line.
Cox was spectacular with a 4-for-5 performance, driving in four RBIs and scoring three runs with two singles, a double, and a home run. Little, Davis, Ainsworth, and Johnson had two hits each, combining for five RBIs and eight runs scored. Symes hit 4-for-5 with three RBIs and three runs, and Kerlin was 1-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored.
St. Edward's improves to 33-13 with a 31-13 conference record. The Hilltoppers and Dustdevils will continue the series tomorrow with a doubleheader at noon.
