??LAREDO, Texas — Home runs bookended the scoring in regulation before the opener fizzled into a walk-off walk, sending St. Edward's to a 5-4 loss in 14 innings against Texas A&M International on Friday night to open the four-game road series.
Each team stranded three runners through the first three innings of a game that settled quickly into a defensive duel before
AUSTIN PAGE finally broke the scoreless stalemate in the fourth, launching a two-out solo home run to put the Hilltoppers in front.
BRANDON HUFF kept the Dustdevils quiet into the seventh, but Texas A&M International finally broke through after a pitch hit Derek Garcia, and David Benitez drew a walk. A passed ball moved both runners into scoring position before Ciro Benavides ripped a two-run double to center, giving the Dustdevils their first lead of the night. After Page threw Benavides out trying to steal third, Eddie Saenz followed with a solo homer to stretch the margin to 3-1 and end Huff's outing.
St. Edward's answered immediately in the eighth when the Dustdevils' bullpen lost the zone.
CONNOR COX walked, a pitch hit
NICO RUEDAS, and
DAVID RIPPLE dropped down a bunt single to load the bases. Texas A&M International nearly escaped when
DAWSON STUTZ fouled out, and Page struck out, but a pitch hit
KADE NATHMAN to force in a run,
TREVOR SEBEK followed with a bunt single to tie the game, and
DYLAN TATE wore another pitch to bring home the go-ahead run.
The lead did not last. Saenz struck again in the bottom of the ninth, hammering his second solo homer of the night to even the score at 4-4 and send the game into extras.
The Hilltoppers had chances to seize it late.
KAIN SANCHEZ and Nathman opened the 10th with back-to-back singles, but St. Edward's stranded both. The Hilltoppers left two more aboard in the 12th, then wasted a leadoff single from
MAYSON WINTERS in the 14th.
Texas A&M International finally walked it off in the bottom half. Saenz drew a leadoff walk, Iann Cobos reached on an error, and Jacob Angell's sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position. After an intentional walk loaded the bases, Asahi Nakano worked a full-count walk to end it.
St. Edward's finished with 11 hits, with Nathman leading the way with two. Page supplied the early spark with his homer, while Sebek drove in a run during the eighth-inning rally. The Hilltoppers fell to 22-16 with the loss.
