CANYON, Texas – St. Edward's softball battled valiantly but fell short against the third-ranked team in the nation, dropping a 3-0 game to LSC Tournament host West Texas A&M in the LSC Quarterfinals. 
 
Both defenses and pitching staffs were sharp, save for a three-run fourth inning by West Texas A&M for the deciding margin. 
 
Lone Star Conference Player and Pitcher of the Year Emily Boyer lived up to her reputation with 12 strikeouts, surrendering only one hit and walk. St. Edward's nearly matched her by committee, playing stellar defense behind starting pitcher LISETTE URQUIDEZ to limit a team averaging more than 10 hits per game to just four. 
 
"It was kind of the definition of how our season was. We've had a lot of close games, some great wins, and everything we worked hard for came down to this game, and I couldn't be prouder of our girls," St. Edward's Head Softball Coach Hailey Post says. "When you're facing an opponent batting almost .400 as a team, you have to pitch by committee, and we were all-in trying to get a win." 
 
The defense stranded two in the first, with Urquidez notching a big strikeout against Howell for the second out, and then retired six of the next seven hitters, with second baseman LAUREN HOYT robbing Howell of a hit looking for the gap between the infield and right field. 
 
West Texas A&M finally broke through against Urquidez in the fourth. Boyer drew a leadoff walk, scoring on Colborn's RBI triple to right-center for the lead. St. Edward's turned to KYLEN PADGETT out of the bullpen for a big strikeout against Moreno, but walked four hitters, allowing two more runs. An inning-ending double play that would have limited the damage to a single run was negated by the umpire calling an illegal pitch. MADDIE AGUILAR replaced Padgett, got out of the inning, and pitched two more scoreless innings. 
 
JERZIE PELHAM broke up the no-hitter with a single to center field in the fifth, but the inning ended on a double play. A weather delay paused the game late, but both teams retired three of four to end the game when play resumed. St. Edward's wraps up the season with a 27-28 record.