LAREDO, Texas – St. Edward's softball put together stingy defensive performances to open its three-game series against Texas A&M International but couldn't muster enough run support in two losses. 
 
Game 1: Texas A&M International 3, St. Edward's 0
 
A leadoff walk sparked the Dustdevils to break up a scoreless game in the bottom of the fourth. St. Edward's starter, KYLEN PADGETT, walked Victoria Espinoza to open the inning, prompting Sarah Chavez to enter the game to pinch-run. 
 
Alex Hernandez moved her over with a sacrifice bunt, then Victoria Maldonado hit an infield single to put runners on the corners. Eva Garcia drove in Chavez with a hit to left field, reaching on an error for the 1-0 lead. Kennedy Griego added two more runs with a two-RBI triple in the sixth. 
 
KATIE DILLON went 2-for-3 for St. Edward's, and SLOANE HILL, MEGAN MORRIS, and JERZIE PELHAM each had a hit. Padgett went all six innings in the pitcher's circle, striking out four with five walks and two of her three runs surrendered earned. 
 
Game 2: Texas A&M International 1, St. Edward's 0
 
Texas A&M International's Kristy Alanis delivered an RBI single through the left side in the bottom of the second as the only run scored in a defensive battle between St. Edward's and Texas A&M International. 
 
Espinoza led off the bottom of the second inning with a single to center field. After Brigham flied out to right field, St. Edward's starting pitcher LISETTE URQUIDEZ walked Isabella Perez. Queenandra Dunn followed with a grounder to MEGAN MORRIS at shortstop, but the Hilltoppers could not turn two. They settled for the fielder's choice out at second, leaving runners on the corner for Alanis's RBI single. 
 
St. Edward's threatened in the second inning with a leadoff single from Hill and a single from Morris to center field to put runners in the corners, but they could not plate a run. The Hilltoppers also put a runner on third in the third but ended the inning on a line drive to shortstop. 
 
Urquidez pitched all six innings, striking out two with no walks and five hits surrendered. ARIANNA VIDALES, KATIE DILLON, Hill, Morris, and Urquidez each had a hit. 
 
St. Edward's drops to 7-20 with a 5-12 conference record. The Hilltoppers and Dustdevils will conclude the series tomorrow at noon.