EDMOND, Okla. — St. Edward's erupted for one of the most explosive offensive performances in program history Friday afternoon, piling up 28 runs on 23 hits in a 28-5 victory over Oklahoma Christian to open the Lone Star Conference series at Dobson Baseball Field.

The Hilltoppers scored in five of the first six innings and broke the game wide open with a 16-run sixth inning, overwhelming the Eagles with relentless pressure at the plate and on the bases. The 28 runs tie the third most in program history. 

St. Edward's wasted little time getting on the board. After two quick outs in the first inning, NICO RUEDAS launched a solo home run down the left-field line to give the Hilltoppers an early 1-0 lead.

The Hilltoppers added to the advantage in the third. Ruedas reached base before DAVID RIPPLE walked, and TREVOR SEBEK delivered a two-run single up the middle to score both runners and push the lead to 3-0.

St. Edward's offense began to snowball in the fourth inning. DYLAN TATE walked and stole second before BEN MERRIMAN singled to put runners on the corners. CONNOR COX followed with a double to right-center field that drove in Tate and set a new St. Edward's program record for career doubles.

The inning continued to unravel for Oklahoma Christian as Ripple added a two-run single, KADE NATHMAN knocked in another run with a single, and Sebek pushed across a run with a bunt single to cap a five-run frame that stretched the lead to 8-0.

St. Edward's struck again in the fifth. Ruedas delivered an RBI single and Nathman crushed a three-run double to left-center, extending the Hilltoppers' advantage to 12-0.

Oklahoma Christian briefly responded in the bottom half of the inning when Elijah Laus launched a three-run homer to highlight a four-run rally, trimming the margin to 12-4.

But the Hilltoppers answered emphatically with a staggering sixth inning. St. Edward's sent 21 batters to the plate and scored 16 runs on 12 hits, highlighted by MARCO GONZALES' grand slam to deep left field and RBI hits from Nathman, Sebek, DANIEL RIPPLE, JACOB BULCROFT, and MAYSON WINTERS.

Sebek finished with a monster performance, going 5-for-6 with five RBI, while Nathman drove in five runs of his own. Ruedas scored five times and homered, and Cox added two RBI along with the record-setting double.

On the mound, CAMDEN WHITE gave the Hilltoppers a steady start, allowing just two hits over 3.2 innings. JACOB GLAZENER earned the win in relief before JOE ALLEN closed out the game with a scoreless seventh inning.

St. Edward's finished with 23 hits and 11 walks while swiping four bases as part of a relentless offensive effort that produced the program's highest run total of the season.

The Hilltoppers will continue the four-game Lone Star Conference series against Oklahoma Christian on Saturday.