AUSTIN, Texas – Aggressive baserunning combined with a dominant pitching performance from KYLEN PADGETT carried St. Edward's softball to a 4-0 victory over Texas Permian Basin to open the three-game series. 
 
St. Edward's put two on in the first with the speedy slap-hitting KATIE DILLON and ARIANNA VIDALES. Dillon drew a leadoff walk, stole second, and then moved to third when Vidales legged out an infield single. However, Texas Permian Basin pitcher Destini Trahan recovered to retire the next three Hilltoppers to escape the inning unscathed. 
 
The top of the Hilltopper lineup opened the bottom of the third and followed a similar scenario. Dillon was gifted first on an error, stole second, and Vidales executed a perfect bunt for a single. St. Edward's made good this time with a sacrifice fly from SLOANE HILL for the 1-0 lead. 
 
In the fourth, St. Edward's athleticism posed more problems for Texas Permian Basin. RYAN RANGEL lined a one-out single to right field. CHARLOTTE NUCCIO pinch-ran for her, and after JERZIE PELHAM delivered a two-out single to left, the two executed a double steal. 
 
Dillon followed with an infield single, beating the throw by two steps while Nuccio and Pelham scored, with the latter sliding around the tag at the plate for the 3-0 lead. 
 
St. Edward's first three hitters reached in the sixth inning. Pelham hit a leadoff single up the middle, Dillon drew a walk, and Vidales bunted for a single again. Pelham tried to score from two bases away again on Vidales's infield single but was thrown out at home. Hutzler followed with a groundout that scored Dillon, extending the lead to 4-0. 
 
Padgett started slowly in the pitcher's circle for the Hilltoppers, falling behind all four batters in the first inning, including 3-0 counts to the first two hitters. However, she found her rhythm quickly and settled into a groove. 
 
The sophomore from Huffman, Texas, retired 19 consecutive Falcons (counting a double play) until Valo snuck a single through the left side in the top of the seventh. Padgett responded by striking out Parker and Marquez back-to-back to end the game. 
 
Padgett threw all seven innings, allowing only two hits and a walk with six strikeouts. Dillon and Vidales combined to hit 4-for-6, with Dillon driving in two runs and scoring two.