AUSTIN, Texas – St. Edward's softball opens the Lone Star Conference Tournament on Thursday, leaning on a young roster and a few experienced seniors looking to make the program's first NCAA Regional since 2014.
The Hilltoppers enter the postseason holding the seventh spot in the latest NCAA South Central Regional Rankings, with the top eight teams earning an NCAA Tournament bid. Standing in their way is first-round opponent Angelo State, who is seeded higher in the conference standings but currently on the outside, looking in on a Regional berth at ninth in the rankings.
St. Edward's took the first game in the regular-season series against Angelo State with a pair of home runs from freshman JERZIE PELHAM and sophomore MEGAN MORRIS, along with a solid defensive performance behind standout junior pitcher CADIE BELLE CURRIE. However, Angelo State responded by taking the next two to win the series.
The win was the epitome of St. Edward's formula for success this season, adding clutch hitting to a stingy defense. The Hilltoppers are fourth in the conference in ERA (2.68), with a defense that leads the conference in double plays.
Third baseman ALEXIS MASSIE and shortstop LAUREN HOYT form a defensive wall on the left side of the infield, and a trio of slap-hitting speedsters in HAILEY SONKA, ARIANNA VIDALES, and KATIE DILLON covers enough ground to get to all but the most perfectly-placed hits in the outfield.
The depth of athleticism across the lineup is evident by the team's 104 stolen bases, which ranks fourth in the Lone Star Conference. That athleticism and a solid pitching staff of Currie, MCKENNA LEAMON, KYLEN PADGETT, and RENNA TOOMEY allow the Hilltoppers to play most games on their terms, mitigating the damage opposing hitters can cause while manufacturing runs.
It's a formula that has led the Hilltoppers to wins over current and previously nationally-ranked teams like Augustana, West Texas A&M, and Oklahoma Christian, taking two of three against the latter and playing competitively everywhere else.
The two losses to Angelo State are an example of where the Hilltoppers have struggled, straining a defense to be perfect when the offense stalls.
St. Edward's isn't without talent at the plate, though most of it is young and inexperienced. Consistency has been the most significant factor, with different parts of the lineup clicking at different times and the Hilltoppers still looking to get firing on all cylinders.
Vidales, the team's freshman leadoff hitter, leads the team with a .322 batting average, a .397 on-base percentage, 26 runs, and 26 stolen bases. Vidales opened the season on a tear, generating infield singles and stretching everything into the outfield into extra bases until an injury sidelined her for an extended stretch. Though she struggled briefly upon returning, moving across the lineup, Vidales regained her rhythm over the final two weeks and resumed her role as a stellar leadoff hitter.
Dillon spent most of the season in the second spot, mirroring Vidales in many ways, accounting for the second-most runs scored on the team. The pair make life easier for the heart of the lineup, where freshmen JERZIE PELHAM and ELLA HUTZLER have flashed promise and power. Senior JORDAN NEELY broke into the lineup and made steady contributions late in the season.
Massie struggled early but turned the corner after a walk-off hit in the middle of the year and now leads the team with nine doubles and is tied for third with 13 RBIs. Morris followed a successful first season with a steady sophomore campaign, hitting .282 with 20 RBIs, 16 stolen bases, and ten runs scored.
Angelo State is led by Ashlyn Lerma's .277 batting average and .485 on-base percentage, pacing the conference's top team in stolen bases with 58. Paxton Scheurer complements Lerma's speed with raw power, hitting .321 with 15 home runs and 51 RBIs. Cheyenne Floyd leads the pitching staff with 111 strikeouts and a 2.31 ERA, while Genesis Armendariz has 14 wins with 140.2 innings thrown this season.
St. Edward's and Angelo State play Thursday at 1:30 p.m., with the winner advancing to face top-seeded Texas-Tyler in the next round.
