AUSTIN, Texas—LAUREN HOYT's towering shot over the left-field fence sparked a three-run inning for St. Edward's, which won the second game and earned a split of its doubleheader against Lubbock Christian.
Game 1: Lubbock Christian 3, St. Edward's 0
St. Edward's starter,
KYLEN PADGETT, delivered a solid performance in the circle against Lubbock Christian. Still, the Lady Chaps took advantage of the few opportunities afforded them with two home runs in a 3-0 win.
Lubbock Christian's Ally Oyanguren put the Chaps on the scoreboard in the top of the second with a leadoff home run to right field. Oyanguren sparked Lubbock Christian again in the fourth with a leadoff single to right center. The Hilltopper defense battled back to record two consecutive outs, but Baylea Myers came through with an RBI double to left field for a second run. Kamryn Gibbs added the Chaps' third run on a leadoff home run to right field in the sixth inning.
St. Edward's had an early opportunity in the first with an
ELLA HUTZLER single and
SLOANE HILL walk with two outs, but
LAUREN HOYT lined out to center field to end the inning. The play was one of several hard-hit shots the Hilltoppers put into play, but directly at the defense.
The Hilltoppers put two on base in the bottom of the seventh, with
MEGAN MORRIS reaching on an error and
AUDRI CASTILLO finding the gap through the left side for the single. This forced Lubbock Christian to go to its bullpen, bringing Maxine Valdez in for Teoni Lamb.
Valdez struck out the first batter she faced, then threw a wild pitch to advance both runners into scoring position before
JERZIE PELHAM lined out to left field to end the game.
Hutzler led St. Edward's with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate, including a double.
KATIE DILLON and Castillo also recorded a hit. Padgett went all seven innings in the circle, walking four, striking out two, and surrendering three runs on seven hits.
Game 2: St. Edward's 3, Lubbock Christian 2
Lubbock Christian struck early, plating two runs in the first. Sydnee Bowlin led off with an infield single. After Skylar Herrera flied out to right field, Tiara Delrosario reached on a fielder's choice, with Bowlin reaching second on a throwing error. Hope Banales took advantage with an RBI single through the right side.
St. Edward's pitcher
LISETTE URQUIDEZ walked Oyanguren to load the bases, but St. Edward's mitigated the damage with a force out at home. Riley Flores followed with another infield single to drive in Banales before Myers grounded into a fielder's choice out at second to end the inning.
LAUREN HOYT sparked a three-run Hilltopper inning in the fifth with a solo blast to deep left field, easily clearing the raised mini-monster portion of the fence. After Morris grounded out,
AUDRI CASTILLO singled up the middle, then
JERZIE PELHAM singled with a bunt, putting runners on the corners.
ALEA DESERRANO grounded out to shortstop, driving in a run to tie the game.
KATIE DILLON followed with a shot right back to the pitcher's circle that glanced off Taryn Westbrook's glove for the RBI single and the lead.
Lubbock Christian threatened with one out, getting a single and double from Bowlin and Herrera back-to-back, but Morris fielded two consecutive outs at shortstop to escape the inning. Similarly,
RYAN RANGEL hit a leadoff single up the middle for St. Edward's, and pinch-runner
HAILEY SONKA advanced to second, but LCU third baseman dove on a shot in the gap to rob an insurance run.
In the seventh, St. Edward's dug in defensively, securing the victory with a groundout to Morris, a strikeout, and a flyout to Sonka in left field.
St. Edward's recorded six hits between Dillon, Vidales, Rangel, Hoyt, Castillo, and DeSerrano.
LISETTE URQUIDEZ went all seven innings in the win, striking out two with a walk and two earned runs allowed.
St. Edward's improves to 9-22 with a 7-14 conference record. The Hilltoppers will travel to Oklahoma this weekend to play Cameron, starting with a doubleheader on Friday.
