TYLER, Texas – St. Edward's newly minuted all-conference players CADIE BELLE CURRIE and ARIANNA VIDALES played the part, and the rest of the Hilltoppers softball team stepped up in a dominant 8-0 win over Angelo State in the first round of the Lone Star Conference Championship Tournament. 

Currie threw her eighth complete-game shutout of the season, limiting Angelo State to three hits and a walk for her 15th win in 24 decisions. 

St. Edward's retired the first six Angelo State hitters in order, going the circuitous route in the second inning with an inning-ending 5-4-3 double play, adding to its conference-leading total. 

The Hilltopper struck in the third inning, taking advantage of back-to-back walks drawn by HAILEY SONKA and ARIANNA VIDALES to open the inning. Angelo State starter Cheyenne Floyd battled back to strike out KATIE DILLON and get ELLA HUTZLER to foul out to first, but ALEXIS MASSIE capitalized with a two-RBI double driven to left-center for the game's first runs. 

Angelo State put its first runner in scoring position in the bottom of the inning on a Maleya Burns leadoff walk and one-out stolen base. However, Currie struck out Tatiana Trotter and Ashlyn Lerma grounded out to Massie at third to end the threat. 

St. Edward's blew the game open with a six-run fourth inning. GABI LOPEZ opened with a walk, ending Floyd's afternoon. Angelo State brought Genesis Armendariz out of the bullpen. LAUREN HOYT welcomed her with a bunt for a single, and both runners moved into scoring position after a throwing error. 

Then, after MEGAN MORRIS reached on a fielder's choice with no out made and pinch-hitter JORDAN NEELY went down swinging, Vidales ripped a three-RBI stand-up triple up the middle and through the gap in the outfield. 

KATIE DILLON followed by plating another run with an infield single, beating the throw from third while Vidales scored. Then, JERZIE PELHAM singled through the right side, moving Dillon over to third and ending Armendariz's day with Torrey Hogan replacing her. 

After Massied popped up to second, ELLA HUTZLER lined a two-RBI single to left field for the 8-0 lead. 

Keilei Garcia tried to spark Angelo State with a two-out infield single. However, pinch-runner Layni Tanner was thrown out by Lopez trying to steal second, limiting the conference-leading team in steals to just one on two attempts. 

Angelo State got a leadoff double down the right-field line from its own all-conference player, Paxton Scheurer. Then, Ashton McMillan reached first on an error by Massie. The Hilltoppers' senior third baseman responded by turning a crucial 5-3 double play, then fielded Ashton Dirner's grounder to end the game. 

Vidales and Hutzler each hit 2-for-3. Vidales also drew a walk, drove in three RBIs, and scored twice. Hutzler had two RBIs. Dillon, Pelham, Massie, and Hoyt each had a hit, with Massie driving in two RBIs and Dillon recording one. 

St. Edward's improves to 27-25 with the win and eliminates at least one team vying to overtake them for one of the top eight spots in the South Central Regional Rankings and a spot in the NCAA Regionals. The Hilltoppers played Texas-Tyler, the nation's third-ranked team, at 6:30 p.m.