AUSTIN, Texas – The nation's top-ranked team, the UT Tyler Patriots, ended St. Edward's softball's string of doubleheader sweeps and splits with two victories over the Hilltoppers. 
 
Game 1: UT Tyler 17, St. Edward's 1
UT Tyler set the tone with nine runs in the first inning, getting a three-RBI triple from Campos for a 4-0 lead before St. Edward's recorded the first out. JT Smith capped off the first-inning scoring with a grand slam.
 
The Patriots totaled five home runs, accounting for 10 of their 17 runs, with two home runs coming from De Los Santos. St. Edward's totaled three hits, including doubles from MEGAN MORRIS and CIANA RODRIGUEZ. Morris hit a leadoff double in the fifth, and Rodriguez drove her in on a groundout to shortstop. ALYSSA BURDGE recorded the other hit, pinch-hitting in the fifth. 
 
Game 2: UT Tyler 7, St. Edward's 0
KYLEN PADGETT kept UT Tyler off the scoreboard for three innings before an error helped set up one of two sacrifice flies in the fourth, giving an unearned first run in a three-run inning. The Patriots added four more in the sixth, getting a two-RBI double down the left-field line from Schott and a two-run home run from Campos.
 
Hoyt, Rodriguez, and SOFIA APONTE accounted for all three of St. Edward's hits. SLOANE HILL drew two walks.
 
St. Edward's drops to 21-17 with a 15-13 conference record. The Hilltoppers softened the blow with a critical sweep over TWU on Saturday, putting a buffer zone between St. Edward's and a .500 conference record. 
 
After TWU swept St. Mary's in San Antonio today, the Hilltoppers and Rattlers are tied for fifth in the conference standings, setting up big home-and-home doubleheaders for conference positioning. St. Edward's travels to San Antonio on Friday and hosts St. Mary's on Monday.