AUSTIN, Texas – An untimely St. Edward's error turned a potential three-up, three-down third inning into a four-run scoring explosion for No. 21-ranked West Texas A&M in a 5-2 win over the Hilltoppers to split the doubleheader. 
 
West Texas A&M struck first when Zac Rackham delivered a two-out, solo blast in his first at-bat of the series off St. Edward's starter JAKUB RAYFIELD in the top of the second. 
 
CONNOR COX led off the bottom of the inning with a single to center field. JOSH GRAHAM moved him over to second on a sacrifice bunt, and an error put runners on first and third, but Cox was thrown out at home on a grounder from NICHOLAS ANDERSON. However, JEREMY HILL reached first on a throwing error that scored DYLAN TATE to tie the game. 
 
Rayfield retired the first two hitters in the third, but TREVOR SEBEK bobbled a ball hit between third and shortstop to extend the inning on an error. Seth Ochoa capitalized with a double to put runners on second and third, then Elijah Batista gave West Texas A&M the lead on a two-RBI double to left. Rayfield lost Glenn Noronha on a full count walk, and then Jalen Meyers hit an RBI single to left field. 
 
Another infield error cost St. Edward's a fifth run before Rayfield struck out Kyle Micklus to get out of the inning. 
 
CARLO FIGUEROA sparked St. Edward's with a one-out single at the bottom of the inning, and CONNOR COX drove him in with a two-out double to the left center. 
 
BEN SMEDSHAMMER came out of the bullpen to start the fourth and was effective through four scoreless innings, surrendering just one hit and two walks while striking out four. 
 
West Texas A&M retired 12 of the next 16 St. Edward's hitters, surrendering two walks, a single from Tate, and a double from TRAVIS CHESTNUT. 
 
Rayfield picked up the loss with four of the five runs unearned, striking out four with three walks and six hits surrendered. Cox was effective at the plate, hitting 2-for-3 with an RBI, but the Hilltoppers managed only three other hits and two walks. 
 
St. Edward's drops to 2-1 with the loss, clinching at least a split of the four-game series. The Hilltoppers and Buffaloes will conclude the series on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.