WICHITA FALLS, Texas – St. Edward's softball received great production from the top of its lineup and a solid performance from KYLEN PADGETT in the circle to defeat Midwestern State 5-2 in the first game of a doubleheader. 
 
Midwestern State produced back-to-back singles from Megan Ayala and Tatum Waller in the bottom of the second inning, scoring one unearned run on a throwing error with two outs.
 
SOFIA APONTE sparked St. Edward's offense with a leadoff triple to right-center in the fourth, scoring on MEGAN MORRIS's RBI single through the left side to tie the game. SLOANE HILL followed with an opposite-field double to right field, and ELLA HUTZLER added a third run with an RBI single. 
 
Padgett loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the inning, walking Ayala, surrendering an infield single to Waller, and plunking Myranda Jimenez. However, Padgett regained her composure and battled back to retire the next two hitters, striking out two. 
 
RYAN RANGEL drove in another run in the sixth with a sacrifice fly, scoring JERZIE PELHAM, who reached on a walk. St. Edward's loaded the bases to start the seventh, and Hill drove in KATIE DILLON with an RBI single before reliever Kayleigh Bowers got out of the inning. 
 
Midwestern State hit three consecutive singles with two outs to score Lily Warren through Emma Roach's RBI single to left field before the Hilltopper defense ended the game on a force out at home.
 
Dillon and Hutzler both hit 2-for-3, combining for an RBI and run. Hill also had two hits with two RBI. Aponte and Morris each had a hit and scored a run. St. Edward's improves to 7-6 with its first conference win.