EDMOND, Okla. – St. Edward's lost two leads late against No. 20 Oklahoma Christian, dropping both games of softball's road doubleheader against the Eagles.
Game 1: Oklahoma Christian 4, St. Edward's 2
St. Edward's surrendered three runs in the sixth and stranded five runners throughout the game in a 4-2 loss to Oklahoma Christian.
The Hilltoppers did all their damage with two outs in the third inning, loading the bases on two singles and a walk.
MEGAN MORRIS put St. Edward's ahead with a two-RBI single to center field.
St. Edward's starting pitcher
LISETTE URQUIDEZ and the Hilltopper defense retired the first nine Oklahoma Christian hitters in order until Urquidez walked Marti Yaerger to start the fourth. Sydnee Seat moved her into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt, and Maci George drove her in with an RBI double to right-center.
KATIE DILLON and
ARIANNA VIDALES opened the fifth with consecutive infield singles and advanced into scoring position on
LAUREN HOYT's sacrifice bunt, but left both stranded.
Oklahoma Christian led off the bottom of the sixth with back-to-back singles from Kadence Brewster and Yaerger, and once again, Seat laid down a sacrifice bunt to move them into scoring position, and George followed through with a two-RBI single to right-center and the lead. The Eagles added an insurance run on a sac fly from Kiley Brewster for the 4-2 lead.
Dillon reached on a bunt in the seventh, but the other three Hilltoppers were retired to end the game.
Game 2: Oklahoma Christian 5, St. Edward's 3
St. Edward's softball carried a lead into the fifth inning, surrendering four runs in an eventual 5-3 loss to the Oklahoma Christian Eagles.
ELLA HUTZLER and
SLOANE HILL hit back-to-back singles, scoring Hutzler on Hill's RBI single to right field for the first-inning lead. The duo combined for two more singles in the third inning, with Hutzler scoring on an error.
JERZIE PELHAM kept St. Edward's at-bat alive in the fourth with a two-out single to right field, and Vidales drove her in with an RBI triple to left field for the 3-0 lead.
St. Edward's starting pitcher
KYLEN PADGETT and the Hilltopper defense retired 13 of the first 14 hitters before Oklahoma Christian ripped three consecutive hits.
Paulsen started the run with a one-out single to left field, and Karsyn Iltis and Kallie Rupp hit back-to-back doubles, getting an RBI from Rupp. After Kadence Brewster fouled out, Yaerger and Seat delivered back-to-back singles to tie the game.
MADDIE AGUILAR replaced Padgett in the circle and surrendered an RBI single to George.
Kiley Brewster hit a leadoff triple in the sixth and scored on an error for the game's final run. St. Edward's went down in order in the seventh. Hutzler and Hill combined to hit 5-for-7.
St. Edward's drops to 25-25 with a 19-21 conference record. The Hilltoppers will return home to close out the season, hosting Texas A&M International and Texas A&M-Kingsville next Friday and Sunday.
