AUSTIN, Texas — St. Edward's and Midwestern State traded blows in a Saturday doubleheader at Diane Daniels Field, with the Mustangs riding an early offensive surge to take the opener before the Hilltoppers answered with late-game heroics to earn a split.

Midwestern State struck quickly in Game 1, capitalizing on traffic in the first inning. After a hit batter and a single put runners aboard, Marisela Landa ripped a three-run double to center to give the Mustangs an early 3–0 lead.

The Hilltoppers clawed back in the third. ARIANNA VIDALES sparked the rally with a single, and SLOANE HILL followed with another base hit to load the bases. RYAN RANGEL brought home St. Edward's first run on a fielder's choice before DAFNE MERCADO drove a double into right center to plate two more, trimming the deficit to 4–3.

That momentum didn't last long. Midwestern State erupted for six runs in the fourth inning, stringing together hits and taking advantage of defensive miscues to break the game open. RBI singles from Tatum Waller, Chipper Mayorga, and Landa highlighted the inning as the Mustangs pushed their lead to 10–3.

Mayorga added another RBI single in the fifth to cap the scoring, and Midwestern State secured an 11–3 victory behind a complete-game effort from Audrey Sierra, who scattered six hits across five innings.

The nightcap unfolded very differently.

Both teams traded scoreless frames early before Midwestern State broke through in the fourth when Erikha Ibarra-Subia delivered an RBI infield single to give the Mustangs a 1-0 lead. St. Edward's responded immediately in the bottom half as Rangel launched a solo home run to left field to even the game.

The Hilltoppers moved ahead in the fifth when Vidales singled, stole second, and eventually scored on Mercado's sacrifice fly, but Midwestern State capitalized on defensive miscues in the seventh. With two outs and runners aboard, Mayorga doubled deep to right field to drive in two unearned runs and flip the score to 3–2.

St. Edward's answered right back.

After HANNA ZACHARY reached on an error, Rangel delivered a clutch RBI single to center to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh, sending the contest into extra innings.

KYLEN PADGETT kept the Hilltoppers within striking distance, tossing a complete-game nine-inning performance while limiting the Mustangs to just one earned run.

In the bottom of the ninth, St. Edward's finished the comeback. Vidales dropped down a bunt single and advanced to second on Zachary's sacrifice bunt. Hill then lined a single up the middle, scoring Vidales from second and delivering a walk-off 4–3 victory for the Hilltoppers.

Padgett earned the win in the circle, while Vidales paced the offense with two hits and two runs scored. Rangel added two hits and two RBIs, including the game-tying homer that ignited the rally.

With the split, St. Edward's moved to 8-15 overall and 5-7 in Lone Star Conference play.