DENTON, Texas – CADIE BELLE CURRIE provided one final stellar performance in the pitcher's circle, and first-year AUDRI CASTILLO hit her first collegiate home run to help lead St. Edward's softball to a split of Thursday's doubleheader.
 
Game 1: TWU 4, St. Edward's 1
 
Texas Woman's University rattled off four unanswered runs to clinch the series with a 4-1 victory over St. Edward's.
 
St. Edward's threatened early with two on and one out in the top of the first, but CHARLOTTE NUCCIO and ELLA HUTZLER were left stranded by an inning-ending double play. The Hilltoppers returned the favor in the second when TWU loaded the bases, but AUDRI CASTILLO was able to end the inning with the 5-2 double play.
 
Nuccio drew a leadoff walk in the fourth, Hutzler moved her over with a sac bunt, and Nuccio advanced to third on Sloan Hill's fly out to right field to set up MEGAN MORRIS's RBI double to right-center, giving St. Edward's the brief lead.
 
Alyssa LeBlanc hit a leadoff double down the right-field line in the bottom of the inning, then Smith moved pinch-runner Rodriguez to third on the sacrifice bunt, and Piper Morton tied the game with an RBI single to left field. After Makana Morton grounded out and Delaney Boley walked, TWU took the lead in a double-stealing situation, and Morton scored before Boley was thrown out.
 
Vivica Hernandez added to the lead with an RBI double in the fifth, and Mortin drove in a run with a triple in the sixth.
 
Game 2: St. Edward's 6, TWU 1
 
Currie stepped into the pitcher's circle for St. Edward's in the season's final game and helped the Hilltopper defense set the tone, retiring the first seven hitters in order.
 
The Hilltoppers breezed through the first two scoreless innings in an early defensive duel. St. Edward's threatened in the second with back-to-back singles from SLOANE HILL and MEGAN MORRIS but left both stranded.
 
St. Edward's flipped the script in the third, opening with two quick outs before Nuccio drew a walk. Hutzler followed with an RBI double to give St. Edward's the lead.
 
TWU loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the inning, but Hawwa Townsend grounded into an out to end the inning.
 
LeBlanc reached on a fielding error, and Smith moved her over with a sac bunt. Piper Morton flew out to left-center, but Makana Morton followed with an RBI single to center field to tie the game.
 
Castillo answered immediately with a leadoff home run down the left-field line in the top of the fifth to retake the lead.
 
After the Hilltopper defense retired the side in order in the fifth, Hutzler sparked St. Edward's with a leadoff double in the sixth. HAILEY SONKA pinch-ran for her, and Hill singled to right field to put runners on the corners.
 
Morris followed with an RBI single to third, LAUREN HOYT moved both runners over with a sac bunt, and ALEA DESERRANO drove in another run with a single to right field. An out later, JERZIE PELHAM drove in Morris on a single through the right side, and the Hilltoppers added a sixth run through an error.
 
Currie struck out two of three in the sixth, and it was a three-up, three-down defensive inning with a double play in the seventh. Currie went all seven innings, striking out five with one walk, four hits, and no earned runs.
 
Hutzler, Hill, and Morris each had two hits. St. Edward's finishes 18-34 with a 16-26 conference record.