AUSTIN, Texas — Momentum didn't linger long on the Greyhounds' side Friday afternoon, as the No. 26 St. Edward's Hilltoppers answered Eastern New Mexico's early runs immediately and emphatically.

After surrendering an early two-run deficit, the Hilltoppers erupted for five runs in the bottom of the first inning and delivered the decisive blow with a six-run fifth, powering past Eastern New Mexico, 13-9, to open the Lone Star Conference series at Lucian-Hamilton Field. 

The home-opener victory moved St. Edward's to three consecutive wins after dropping the first game of the season to West Texas A&M.

Eastern New Mexico struck first with a two-run opening frame, but St. Edward's wasted no time flipping the script. CONNOR COX ignited the response with a double to deep center and came home on AUSTIN PAGE's sacrifice fly to open the scoring. 

NICO RUEDAS followed with an RBI single to tie the game, and KAIN SANCHEZ delivered the breakthrough moment, dropping a two-run single that gave the Hilltoppers their first lead. DYLAN TATE capped the rally with an RBI walk, completing a five-run answer that turned an early deficit into a 5-2 advantage.

The Greyhounds trimmed the lead to one with two unearned runs in the third, but the Hilltoppers' offense never allowed the pressure to settle. Cox, who hit 4-for-5, remained at the center of every offensive push.

The turning point came in the fifth inning.

With St. Edward's clinging to a 5-4 lead, Tate sparked the rally after being hit by a pitch. Cox followed with a single to put immediate pressure on the defense, and BEN MERRIMAN extended the lead with a sacrifice fly. The Hilltoppers then capitalized on defensive miscues to break the game open. JACOB BULCROFT delivered a single off the bench, Ruedas reached on an error, and TREVOR SEBEK added an RBI single. BOSTON LEE provided the exclamation point, driving a double down the right-field line to bring home two runs, and Sanchez followed with another RBI single to complete a six-run surge that pushed the Hilltoppers comfortably in front, 11-4.

Eastern New Mexico refused to fade quietly, pulling within striking distance with a two-run homer in the seventh and a three-run eighth to cut the deficit to 12-9. But the Hilltoppers answered once more in the bottom half of the eighth, as Cox reached again and eventually scored on another Greyhound error to provide insurance.

FINN MIGNEREY took over on the mound and shut the door, tossing 1.1 scoreless innings to secure his first save of the season and preserve the Hilltoppers' series-opening win.

CAMDEN WHITE earned the victory for St. Edward's, working five innings while allowing four runs — just two earned — and striking out four. White kept the Hilltoppers within striking distance early and provided the stability needed for the offense to surge ahead.

Cox delivered a casual 4-for-5 performance with four runs scored and reaching base five times, setting the tone from the top of the lineup. St. Edward's All-American first baseman repeatedly ripped the ball through the right side, pushing the ball past the infield with the speed of a Disney World Lightning Lane pass. Sanchez added two hits and two RBIs, while Sebek and Lee each drove in two runs. Bulcroft provided a spark off the bench with two hits, and Ruedas contributed two hits and two runs scored.

In all, St. Edward's collected 13 runs on 13 hits, applying constant pressure and delivering timely swings to open conference play with authority.
The Hilltoppers will look to carry that momentum into the remainder of the series when St. Edward's returns to Lucian-Hamilton Field on Saturday for Game 2 against Eastern New Mexico.