AUSTIN, Texas — St. Edward's split Sunday's doubleheader with UT Permian Basin, bouncing back from an early setback to take the finale behind a complete-game effort from KYLEN PADGETT at Diane Daniels Field.

The Falcons struck quickly in Game 1, capitalizing on a second-inning opening that turned on a defensive miscue before Kaylee Moses delivered the decisive blow—a three-run single to center that flipped an early Hilltopper lead into a 3-1 deficit. From there, UT Permian Basin continued to apply pressure, adding two more runs in the third behind an RBI triple from Amathyst Gonzalez and a sacrifice fly, stretching the margin to four.

St. Edward's showed life in the fifth, manufacturing a rally with timely contact. ALYSSA BURDGE and ALEAH HERNANDEZ set the table with back-to-back hits before HANNA ZACHARY lined an RBI single through the left side. Darian DeLeon followed with a run-scoring double into the gap, trimming the deficit to 5-3 and putting the Hilltoppers within striking distance.

The push stalled there, however, as UT Permian Basin answered in the sixth, taking advantage of two defensive errors to tack on insurance runs. Despite scattering seven hits and drawing a pair of walks, St. Edward's couldn't find the timely hit late, falling 7-3 in the opener.

The response in Game 2 was immediate and decisive.

St. Edward's jumped on UT Permian Basin in the first inning, taking advantage of a throwing error before DAFNE MERCADO ripped an RBI single to plate a second run. The Hilltoppers continued to build inning by inning, adding a run in the second on Zachary's RBI single, another in the third on JERZIE PELHAM's base hit up the middle, and one more in the fourth when SLOANE HILL drove a double to the wall in center to make it 5-0.

With the offense steadily extending the lead, Padgett took over from there.

The senior right-hander delivered one of her most complete outings of the season, working all seven innings while allowing just four hits and one earned run, striking out seven and limiting UT Permian Basin to scattered chances. Even when the Falcons broke through in the fifth and sixth innings, Padgett responded with poise, stranding runners and keeping the momentum squarely in St. Edward's dugout.
Backed by eight hits and contributions throughout the lineup—multi-hit efforts from Zachary and Hill, along with RBIs from five different players—the Hilltoppers closed out a 5-2 victory to salvage the split.