CANYON, Texas – St. Edward's softball couldn't halt No. 11-ranked West Texas A&M's undefeated start to the season, dropping both games of the conference-opening doubleheader against the nation's most prolific offense.
Game 1: West Texas A&M 8, St. Edward's 1
West Texas A&M scored five runs in the second inning and added two home runs to its nation-leading tally in an 8-1 win over St. Edward's.
The Lady Buffs loaded the bases in the second inning, setting up a two-RBI single to Avery Cannon, followed immediately by a three-run blast from Emily Liskai. Abby Howell added a two-run home run in the fifth for the 7-0 lead.
AVI MARTINEZ broke through for St. Edward's with a pinch-hit leadoff single in the sixth. After
KATIE DILLON re-entered the game to run, a pitch hit
SOFIA APONTE, and Dillon scored on a wild pitch and throwing error.
West Texas A&M got the run back with back-to-back singles from Stoneking and Colborn to open the sixth, followed by a steal and throwing error.
LISETTE URQUIDEZ pitched a complete game in the loss, striking out two and walking one.
MEGAN MORRIS hit 2-foro-3. Martinez and
ALEA DESERRANO also recorded a hit.
Game 2: West Texas A&M 8, St. Edward's 2
West Texas A&M scored seven runs in the first two innings on its way to an 8-2 victory to sweep the Hilltoppers.
St. Edward's struck first, sparked by
KATIE DILLON's leadoff infield single and steal. Aponte drove her in with an RBI double to left field. Emilee Boyer responded almost immediately, hitting a three-run home run in the bottom of the inning.
KYLEN PADGETT replaced
HALEY CARMONA to get out of the inning, but St. Edward's surrendered four more runs in the second. Liskai hit an RBI triple after Padgett walked the leadoff hitter, then Lauren Granger drove Liskai in, and Howell capped it off with a two-run home run. Kuntz added an RBI double in the fifth.
LAUREN HOYT hit a leadoff double in the sixth, scoring on
JERZIE PELHAM's RBI single. Hoyt added another Hilltopper run in the seventh with a two-out RBI double to right-center.
Dillon hit 3-for-4 with a run scored. Hoyt was 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run. Pelham contributed two hits and an RBI. St. Edward's drops to 6-6. The Hilltoppers will travel to Wichita Falls, Texas, to play Midwestern State University on Sunday.
