AUSTIN, Texas — After watching game-tying chances slip away in Game 1, St. Edward's flipped the script in the finale — clearing both the fence and the Mustangs in a 5-2 win to split Sunday's doubleheader with Western New Mexico at Diane Daniels Field.
DAFNE MERCADO provided the breakthrough swing, launching a solo home run to straightaway center in the third, but the difference came in the details. The Hilltoppers turned traffic into runs, and KYLEN PADGETT — backed by a sharp defensive effort — handled the rest.
ARIANNA VIDALES set the tone from the opening pitch, reaching on a single and swiping second. After a walk to Darian DeLeon and two quick outs threatened to stall the inning, senior catcher SLOANE HILL delivered the response, driving a two-RBI double the other way to give St. Edward's an early edge.
Padgett took control from there. The senior right-hander retired the first six batters in order, striking out three, and worked efficiently through the lineup. When Western New Mexico put pressure on in the third with a single and a stolen base, Padgett answered with her glove — fielding a comebacker and starting a rundown that cut down the lead runner at third.
Mercado's home run extended the lead to three, and St. Edward's continued to apply pressure. In the fifth, Vidales once again ignited the offense with a bunt single and a stolen base, eventually coming around to score on consecutive groundouts.
Western New Mexico found a brief spark with two outs in the fifth, stringing together singles and capitalizing on an error to push across a run, and added a solo home run from Marleigh Manns in the sixth. Each time, the Hilltoppers had an answer.
In the bottom half of the sixth, Hill singled to right, and pinch-runner JORDYN COMER moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt from HANNA ZACHARY. ALYSSA BURDGE followed with a single to put runners on the corners before ALEA DESERRANO executed a sacrifice bunt to bring home an insurance run.
Padgett closed it with authority, striking out Hannah Martinez and Addisen Byers in the seventh to seal the win. She went the distance, allowing just one earned run on five hits while striking out seven and issuing no walks.
Hill and Mercado each drove in two runs, while Hill and Vidales paced the offense with 2-for-3 performances.
The win moves St. Edward's to 4-2 in Lone Star Conference play, as the Hilltoppers continue to find ways to turn opportunity into outcome.
