AUSTIN, Texas – After extended use in the first half of the series, St. Edward's bullpen needed heavy innings from starter JAKUB RAYFIELD. The senior right-hander responded by pitching all of them, going the distance in an 8-2 St. Edward's victory over Texas A&M International. 
 
Rayfield and the Hilltopper defense set the tone with a three-up, three-down first inning. Joseph Cruz drew a leadoff walk, but DAVID RIPPLE triggered a 5-4-3 double play to clear the runner. In his second start at third base, Ripple showed a powerful arm, assisting on four outs with throws to first from deep in the corner. 
 
Ripple continued to make the most of his opportunity, hitting 1-for-2 with two RBI and a run scored in his second consecutive start. The sophomore infielder finished the day 3-for-6 with six RBI and three runs. 
 
As auspicious a start as Ripple posted to his St. Edward's career, the seniors did a lot of the heavy lifting a game before Senior Day. 
 
Senior LANCE LITTLE moved CONNOR COX from first two third with a double to left-center, setting up senior MARCO BARRERA's two-RBI single down the left-field line for the lead. 
 
Rayfield retired three of four in the second and bounced back from an RBI single in the third to induce Omar Cervantes into an inning-ending groundout to TREVOR SEBEK at second. He continued to pound the strike zone in the fourth, retiring the side in order and striking out Eddie Saenz to open the inning. 
 
JC Zepeda sparked Texas A&M International with a leadoff single up the middle, and Alex Lugo tied the game on an RBI double to right field. 
 
Barrera put St. Edward's back on top in the bottom of the fifth with a two-RBI double to left field, scoring TRAVIS CHESTNUT and Sebek. Ripple continued his momentum with an RBI single ripped through the right side to score Barrera. 
 
After senior DIEGO SOLIS and JAKE WILEY drew back-to-back walks, head coach Ryan Femath turned to senior JOSH GRAHAM to pinch-hit for CARLO FIGUEROA and was rewarded with a two-RBI single through the left side for the 7-2 lead. 
 
Rayfield retired the side in order again in the sixth, and Ripple added another RBI added another RBI to his ledger with a sac fly to left field. Solis followed with a single up the middle to put St. Edward's up 9-2. Rayfield returned to the mound in the seventh and struck out Zepeda, then retired the next two for the win. 
 
Little, Barrera, and Ripple combined to hit 5-for-9 from the heart of the order. Barrera and Little had two hits each, with Barrera recording four RBIs and a run. Ripple had two RBIs and a run, and Little scored one run. Rayfield finished with three strikeouts, two walks, and only five hits surrendered. 
St. Edward's improves to 30-15 with a 29-14 conference record. The Hilltoppers will celebrate its seniors and try to clinch the series win tomorrow with a 1:00 p.m. first pitch and the senior celebration at 12:30 p.m.