AUSTIN, Texas — The Hilltoppers showed plenty of fight and produced traffic all afternoon, but three bases-loaded opportunities left on the table loomed large as St. Edward's fell 14-7 to Angelo State on Thursday at Lucian-Hamilton Field.

Angelo State seized control early, capitalizing on traffic and miscues to plate two runs in the first before erupting for five more in the second, forcing an early pitching change and putting the Hilltoppers in a 7-0 hole before they could settle in.

Even in that early deficit, St. Edward's had chances to swing the game back. The Hilltoppers loaded the bases in the first inning but came away empty, a missed opportunity that set the tone for a day where timely hits proved elusive.

They answered with their best swing of the day in the second. KADE NATHMAN launched a solo shot to left to get St. Edward's on the board, and two batters later BEN MERRIMAN crushed a three-run homer to trim the deficit to 7-4 and bring the Hilltop to life.
But each time momentum threatened to shift, Angelo State responded. The Rams pushed four more runs across in the fourth inning, stretching the lead back to 11-4 and keeping the Hilltoppers chasing.

St. Edward's continued to apply pressure. In the fifth, the Hilltoppers loaded the bases again and scratched across a run, and in the sixth, AUSTIN PAGE delivered a two-run single down the right field line to cut the deficit to 11-7, bringing the tying run into the on-deck circle.

The chances kept coming — and slipping away. Another bases-loaded situation in the eighth inning ended without a run, marking the third time St. Edward's filled the bags but couldn't deliver the breakthrough hit.

Angelo State, meanwhile, made the most of its opportunities, tacking on insurance in the seventh and eighth innings to create separation, while the Hilltoppers were left to wonder what might have been.

Merriman led the offense with four RBIs, highlighted by his three-run homer, while Nathman added a home run of his own in a two-hit effort. CONNOR COX collected three hits, and Page drove in two as St. Edward's finished with 13 hits — more than enough traffic to change the game, but not enough timely swings to do it.

Despite the offensive production, the combination of an early deficit and missed opportunities ultimately proved decisive as Angelo State finished with 15 hits and took control of the opener.