AUSTIN, Texas — St. Edward's opened its four-game series against Sul Ross State with an offensive barrage Thursday, sweeping the opening doubleheader with a 12–5 win in Game 1 before overwhelming the Lobos 17–2 in a run-rule victory in Game 2 at Lucian-Hamilton Field.

The Hilltoppers (13-6) piled up 29 runs on 32 hits across the two games, delivering big innings in both contests. 

The opener began quietly before St. Edward's seized control in the second inning. BOSTON LEE sparked the rally with a double down the left-field line, and DYLAN TATE and BEN MERRIMAN followed with back-to-back RBI ground-rule doubles. CONNOR COX kept the line moving with a run-scoring single, and NICO RUEDAS capped the surge with an RBI double before DAWSON STUTZ lifted a sacrifice fly, and Ruedas capped the five-run inning, scoring on a double steal with runners on the corners. 

Sul Ross State answered with two runs in the third and two more in the fourth to briefly tighten the game, highlighted by a two-run home run from Jacob Binder that trimmed the margin to 8–4.

But St. Edward's never let the momentum slip. TREVOR SEBEK launched a solo homer in the fourth inning, and later in the frame Tate delivered the game's biggest swing, crushing a two-run shot to left to extend the Hilltopper lead to 11–4. AUSTIN PAGE added an RBI double in the sixth to provide insurance as the offense continued to pile on.

Cox led the charge with a 4-for-4 day and two RBI, while Merriman, Lee, Page, and Tate each recorded two hits in the 15-hit performance. On the mound, AARON GUTIERREZ settled the game after entering in relief, tossing 3.2 innings and allowing just one run while striking out three to secure the win in his Hilltopper debut. 

If the opener showcased the Hilltoppers' depth, the nightcap displayed their firepower.

Sul Ross State struck first in Game 2, but St. Edward's answered immediately. In the second inning, Tate reached and Merriman drew a walk to set the stage for Cox, who ripped a two-run triple to right-center. Moments later, Ruedas launched a two-run home run to left, flipping the deficit into a 4-1 Hilltopper lead.

From there, the offense only accelerated.

After adding another run in the third, St. Edward's delivered the decisive blow in the fourth inning. Ruedas started the rally with an RBI double before BOSTON LEE followed with a two-run single. AUSTIN PAGE and Tate added run-scoring hits, and Merriman punctuated the frame with a towering two-run homer to left as the Hilltoppers erupted for eight runs in the inning to build a commanding 13–1 advantage.

The Hilltoppers finished the job in the sixth when Merriman tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly from Cox before KADE NATHMAN launched a three-run homer to left, stretching the lead to 17–2 and bringing the run-rule into effect.

St. Edward's collected 17 hits in the nightcap, with Merriman, Ruedas, Nathman, and Tate each delivering multi-hit performances. Ruedas and Nathman both drove in three runs as the lineup continued to produce from top to bottom.

On the mound, CONNOR FREEMAN earned the win, allowing two runs over five innings while striking out five. JACOB GLAZENER followed with two scoreless innings of relief to close out the run-rule victory.

With the sweep of Thursday's doubleheader, St. Edward's carries momentum into Friday's series finale as the Hilltoppers look to complete the four-game set against the Lobos.