MANSFIELD, Texas — St. Edward's softball closed out the Lone Star Classic on Sunday afternoon with a hard-fought 5–3 loss to Oklahoma Baptist at the Fields at Station, a game that swung on a handful of momentum plays after the Hilltoppers surged in front early.

After Oklahoma Baptist scratched across a run in the bottom of the first, St. Edward's responded with its most productive frame of the game in the second inning, turning a one-run deficit into a 3–1 lead.

DAFNE MERCADO jump-started the rally by launching her first home run of the season to straightaway center, tying the game at 1–1. SLOANE HILL followed with a single to right, and after a walk and a hit-by-pitch loaded the bases, Darian DeLeon delivered the big swing of the inning. DeLeon lined a two-run single into left-center, plating Hill and JORDYN COMER to give the Hilltoppers a two-run cushion.

Oklahoma Baptist answered immediately in the bottom half of the inning, using a two-run home run from Haley Hacker to even the score at 3–3. The Bison continued to apply pressure an inning later, as Greenlee Wells led off the third with a solo home run to right-center, pushing Oklahoma Baptist back in front, 4–3.

That swing proved to be the difference through the middle innings.

JAYDEN CORTEZ steadied the circle after entering in relief, allowing just one run over the final 3.2 innings while working around traffic. Cortez scattered one hit, struck out two, and induced a series of ground balls to keep St. Edward's within striking distance.

The Hilltoppers had chances to claw back. HANNA ZACHARY singled in the fifth, and Mercado followed with a walk to put two aboard, but Oklahoma Baptist worked out of the jam. JERZIE PELHAM opened the sixth with a single and later advanced to third on a wild pitch, yet St. Edward's again came up empty as the tying run was left 90 feet away.

Oklahoma Baptist added an insurance run in the fifth on a sequence that included a single, a stolen base, and aggressive baserunning, extending the lead to 5–3.

St. Edward's mounted one final push in the seventh. ELLA HUTZLER worked a one-out walk and moved into scoring position as the Hilltoppers tried to manufacture a rally, but Oklahoma Baptist's defense held firm, closing the door to seal the decision.

DeLeon finished 1-for-4 with two RBIs to lead the Hilltoppers offensively, while Hill went 2-for-4 and Mercado added a solo home run and a walk. In the circle, Cortez's relief effort gave St. Edward's a chance late, continuing a trend of competitive pitching performances throughout the weekend.

The loss snapped a back-and-forth Lone Star Classic for the Hilltoppers, who showed flashes of offensive pop and pitching depth as they continue to shape their identity heading into conference play.