AUSTIN, Texas – St. Edward's scored five runs in the first inning and LISETTE URQUIDEZ and the Hilltopper defense did the rest in a 5-2 win over MSU-Denver to take the three-game series 2-1. 
 
The Roadrunners tested St. Edward's early with back-to-back, two-out singles from Alexia Boring and Genevieve Bower. However, ALEA DESERRANO made an alert play on Bower's single to right field, throwing Boring out at second after the latter overshot the bag. 
 
St. Edward's returned to the speedy top-of-the-lineup configuration with KATIE DILLON and ARIANNA VIDALES in the first two spots, and the duo rewarded the coaching staff with back-to-back infield singles to open the bottom of the first. Then, MSU-Denver starting pitcher Cheyenne Prieto walked MEGAN MORRIS to load the bases. After Prieto caught ELLA HUTZLER swinging, Sloan Hill drove Dillon and Vidales in with a single into left field. 
 
CIANA RODRIGUEZ popped up to shortstop for the second out, but Prieto hit DeSerrano to load the bases and walked AUDRI CASTILLO to score another Hilltopper run. 
 
St. Edward's scored two more runs when MSU-Denver shortstop Hannah DiFabio bobbled LAUREN HOYT's grounder, affording Hoyt the extra step necessary to beat the throw and plating DeSerrano and Hill. The Hilltoppers scored five runs in the first, batting through the lineup before Dillon grounded out to third. 
 
Prieto and Mike Berg put two in scoring position with a leadoff single and a one-out double, but the Hilltopper defense kept the Roadrunner side of the scoreboard clean. 
 
MSU-Denver turned to Natalie Romero out of the bullpen to start the second, and she retired the side in order, striking out two. The Hilltopper defense did the same in the top of the third. 
 
The Roadrunners finally broke through in the fourth when Urquidez surrendered a leadoff single and walk. The pinch-hitting Jaiden Geist moved both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt, and Berg hit a sac fly into center field. 
 
Hoyt and Dillon hit back-to-back one-out infield singles in the bottom of the fourth, but the Roadrunner defense escaped unscathed. Urquidez fell behind 3-1 to Lexi Gephart to open the fifth but battled back for her second strikeout, then retired the next two hitters. 
 
Bower hit her second consecutive leadoff single in the sixth, and Geist drove her in before Urquidez got out of the inning, mitigating the damage and holding onto a 5-2 lead. 
 
St. Edward's added two insurance runs in the sixth. Hoyt drew a leadoff walk, and Dillon reached on an error off a sacrifice bunt, moving Hoyt to third. After Dillon stole second, Vidales grounded out to third, driving in Hoyt. Then Morris hit a sac fly. Urquidez retired three of four in the seventh to earn her second win. 
 
Dillon hit 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Vidales, Hill, and Hoyt each had a hit. Urquidez threw a complete game with four strikeouts, surrendering eight hits with only one walk. 
 
St. Edward's improves to 6-4. The Hilltoppers will open conference play next week at West Texas A&M and Midwestern State.