AUSTIN, Texas – St. Edward's pitcher HALEY CARMONA threw a complete-game shutout, and the Hilltoppers' ALEA DESERRANO and ELLA HUTZLER hit home runs in back-to-back innings to lead softball to a 3-0 win over Colorado Christian in the first game of a doubleheader. 
 
Colorado Christian put a runner in scoring position in each of the first four innings. Still, St. Edward's defense refused to break, getting play from third baseman CIANA RODRIGUEZ in the field and three clutch strikeouts from Carmona.
 
Cougars' leadoff hitter Peyton Marvel reached on an error in the first, but St. Edward's quickly halted any Colorado College momentum. TRodriguez expertly played a sacrifice bunt attempt to get the lead out at second. Then, Carmona struck out Rachel Williams, and MEGAN MORRIS fielded an easy pop-up to get out of the inning. 
 
Carmona surrendered a two-out walk and single in the second before ARIANNA VIDALES tracked down a fly ball in center field to keep Colorado Christian scoreless. Colorado Christian drew two more walks in the third in another scoreless inning. 
 
St. Edward's threatened for the first time in the bottom of the third with three consecutive singles from Vidales, Morris, and KATIE DILLON to load the bases with one out, but Colorado Christian starting pitcher Emma Duncan got out of the jam with an infield pop-up and her second strikeout of the inning. 
 
The Hilltoppers faced their biggest challenge in the fourth inning when Dande Lopez ripped a shot over JUNIPER DANIEL into the gap in left-center for a leadoff double, and Camryn Quilling moved her to third with a sacrifice bunt. Rodriguez made another alert play at third, fielding a grounder, looking Lopez back to third, then making the play at first. Lauren Garcia lined out at third to strand Lopez. 
 
Rodriguez drew a one-out walk in the fourth, and the Hilltoppers didn't fail to capitalize this time. ALEA DESERRANO hit her first career home run, ripping a frozen rope over the left-field fence for the 2-0 lead. 
 
St. Edward's retired three of four in the fifth and added another run when ELLA HUTZLER lifted a 3-2 pitch into a moonshot that carried over the fence for a solo blast, her second home run of the season. 
 
After both teams went scoreless in the sixth, the Hilltoppers retired the side in order for the first time to close the game. 
 
Carmona (1-1) surrendered four hits and three walks in the win. DeSerrano hit 2-for-3 with a home run and a single. Morris, Dillon, Hutzler, and Vidales all hit 1-for-3.