AUSTIN, Texas — St. Edward's broke out the heavy artillery in Game 1, then won an old-fashioned pitcher's duel in Game 2 to sweep Friday's doubleheader against Texas A&M-Kingsville to open the final four-game homestand.
 
CONNOR COX and NICO RUEDAS hit back-to-back homers to open a 3-0 lead, with Cox bookending a six-run opening salvo. AUSTIN PAGE and GRAYSON DOGGETT added an RBI groundout and an RBI single, and Cox drew a walk with the bases loaded in his second at-bat of the inning.
 
Travis Vlasek responded with an RBI fielder's choice in the top of the second before Sergio Galvan flied out to end the inning.
 
The Hilltoppers opened the bottom of the inning with back-to-back singles, followed by an RBI double from DYLAN TATE. TREVOR SEBEK added a Texas League RBI single to shallow right to extend the lead to 9-1.
 
Cox struck again in the third with a leadoff blast to straightaway center field, then ripped an RBI single through the right side in the fourth for an 11-1 lead. Cox went a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with five RBI and two runs scored in his first game as the newly minted all-time hits king in Hilltoppers history.
 
BRANDON HUFF (W, 5-4) delivered six strong innings on the mound, limiting the Javelinas to four hits and one run. BEN WAISMAN took the mound to start the seventh and retired the side in order, striking out two.
 
Ruedas struck again in the second game, hitting a two-run blast for the Hilltoppers in the third inning in a 2-1 victory over the Javelinas.
 
FINN MIGNEREY (W, 6-2) was spectacular in his move from the bullpen to his first collegiate start, striking out six while allowing only one run, one walk, and six hits in the complete-game victory — picking up steam as he went, retiring three of four with two strikeouts in the sixth, and retiring the side in order in the seventh for the win.
 
BEN MERRIMAN went 2-for-2 with a run. Cox, Ruedas, KADE NATHMAN, and TREVOR SEBEK also recorded hits. The Hilltoppers improve to 26-17 and will face Texas A&M-Kingsville on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.