CONROE, Texas – St. Edward's softball splits its opening day games at the DII First Pitch Invitational, starting with a big win over No. 20-ranked Rogers State in extra innings, then a mistake-filled loss to Humboldt.
Game 1 - St. Edward 3, #20 Rogers State 2
CADIE BELLE CURRIE went the distance in the pitcher's circle, and GABI LOPEZ delivered a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth to deliver St. Edward's a 3-2 win over nationally-ranked Rogers State in extra innings.
Currie dominated the pitcher's circle, throwing a complete game with a career-high 12 strikeouts in the season opener. The 12 strikeouts are tied for fifth-most in a single game in St. Edward's softball history.
The senior from Grapeland, Texas, retired nine of the first 11 hitters she faced and grew stronger as the game wore on, striking out the side in the fifth and retiring the side in order in the seventh. Currie walked only one runner, hit two, and surrendered five hits with no earned runs allowed.
St. Edward's couldn't get much traction at bat, stranding multiple runners and leaving runners in the corner in the fourth.
Rogers State broke through in the eighth when Spain went down swinging but advanced to first on a wild pitch, putting runners on first and third. The first run scored on obstruction at the plate before Currie escaped the inning. '
The Hilltoppers were down to their last strike in the eighth when MEGAN MORRIS broke through with an RBI single through the left side on an 0-2 count to tie the game.
Rogers State retook the lead in the ninth with a two-out passed ball before Currie ended the inning with her 12th strikeout of the day.
The Hilltoppers received a break when JERZIE PELHAM reached on a throwing error that scored Charlotte Nucicio from second. AUDRI CASTILLO followed by reaching on another error, setting up Lopez's walk-off single to center field on the first pitch to win the game.
Game 2 - Humboldt 8, St. Edward's 0
KYLEN PADGETT was solid in her first start of the season, going three innings, throwing five strikeouts and two walks with four hits surrendered in three innings.
However, the Hilltoppers committed three errors to score two unearned runs in the second and another two in the third on an error for four unearned runs.
Urquidez replaced Padgett in the pitcher's circle to start the fourth and surrendered three runs on five hits before a 5-3 double play ended the inning with a 7-0 Humboldt lead. St. Edward's committed two more errors in the fifth, allowing another unearned run for the final score.
St. Edward's opens the season 1-1 after opening day. The Hilltoppers will play Regis and Saint Martin's University tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
