LAREDO, Texas — The top of St. Edward's lineup set the tone and delivered the finishing blows, powering the Hilltoppers to a doubleheader sweep of Texas A&M International and a 2-1 series lead heading into Sunday's finale.

BEN MERRIMAN, CONNOR COX, and NICO RUEDAS combined to go 8-for-11 out of the top three spots, driving in eight of St. Edward's 14 RBI in a 17-1 rout in the opener.

St. Edward's pieced together four singles into two runs in the second inning, working like a boxer behind the jab before unleashing the haymakers in the third.

KADE NATHMAN broke the game open with a two-RBI triple to left-center after Ruedas and DAVID RIPPLE opened the inning with consecutive singles. Texas A&M International turned to Blaine Elizalde for two quick outs, but the reliever lost command—walking two, uncorking a wild pitch that scored AUSTIN PAGE, and hitting Merriman to load the bases.

Cox made him pay, launching a grand slam to push the lead to 9-0 and end Elizalde's afternoon.

The Dustdevils scratched across their lone run in the fourth on a two-out RBI single from Asahi Nakano, but the Hilltoppers answered immediately. Cox added an RBI single in the fifth, Ripple drew a bases-loaded walk, and another run came home on a double play to extend the margin.

The benches began to clear in the sixth, but the offense kept rolling. Merriman added a two-run blast, while BOSTON LEE and DANIEL RIPPLE tacked on RBI singles to cap the scoring.

CONNOR FREEMAN (6-1) was dominant, working six innings with seven strikeouts, one walk, and four hits allowed. AARON GUTIERREZ closed the door in the seventh.

Game two brought a tighter script—and a familiar opportunity.

After extra-inning heartbreak earlier in the series, St. Edward's flipped the script this time.

The Hilltoppers struck early again, using a double steal to manufacture the first run as Ruedas traded an out at second to bring Cox home. Two batters later, DYLAN TATE launched a three-run homer to make it 4-0.

Texas A&M International responded immediately, loading the bases and scoring twice on a fielder's choice from Giovanni Malatesta and an RBI single by Fabrizio Salinas.

Cox added his seventh RBI of the day in the fourth, but momentum shifted in the fifth. The Dustdevils strung together a double and two singles, then capitalized on free passes—two walks and two hit batters—to score four runs and take a 7-5 lead.

St. Edward's answered late.

Jacob Bullcroft delivered an RBI single in the seventh, and an error tied the game, sending it to extras once again.

In the eighth, GRAYSON DOGGETT sparked the inning with a leadoff single, and Merriman delivered the decisive blow—ripping an RBI double to center to put the Hilltoppers back in front.

Texas A&M International threatened in the bottom half, getting a leadoff bunt single from David Benitez before advancing him with a sacrifice. The Hilltoppers issued an intentional walk to set up the double play, and Iann Cobos obliged, grounding into a 4-6-3 to end it.

Cox finished 4-for-7 with six RBI and five runs scored across the doubleheader, while Merriman added three hits, three runs, and four RBI.

St. Edward's improves to 24-16 and will look to clinch the series Sunday. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m.