AUSTIN, Texas — St. Edward's baseball clinched homefield advantage in the first round of the Lone Star Conference Tournament after winning seven of eight games to close the regular season and will host Lubbock Christian in a best-of-three series at Lucian-Hamilton Field.
The series begins Saturday at 2:00 p.m., followed by a 1:00 p.m. first pitch on Sunday. Game 3, if necessary, is set for Monday at 1:00 p.m.
St. Edward's (31-18) enters the postseason ranked sixth in the latest NCAA South Central Regional rankings and riding one of its best stretches of the season. The Hilltoppers hit .310 as a team with a .442 on-base percentage and rank among the nation's top 20 in getting on base, driven by a patient approach that has produced 303 walks this season.
That offensive identity is anchored by CONNOR COX, who is hitting .408 with 12 home runs, 59 RBI, and a .556 on-base percentage, ranking among the Lone Star Conference leaders in nearly every major category . He's supported by a deep lineup featuring four regulars hitting .296 or better, including KADE NATHMAN (.353) and NICO RUEDAS (.313), while BEN MERRIMAN's 59 walks pace one of the most disciplined offenses in the region .
On the mound, the Hilltoppers carry a 5.89 ERA, highlighted by frontline arms CONNOR FREEMAN (8-1, 2.99 ERA) and FINN MIGNEREY (7-2, 3.21 ERA), both of whom rank among the conference's most reliable starters .
Lubbock Christian (31-19) presents a contrasting profile, built on power and extra-base production. The Chaparrals are hitting .310 as a team with a .518 slugging percentage, including 59 home runs and 110 doubles, both totals among the top marks in the Lone Star Conference. Hudson Grace (.368) and Jorge De Los Santos (.363) lead a lineup that has produced 494 hits and nearly 400 runs this season .
The matchup features two evenly balanced offenses — both averaging 8.0 runs per game — but with different approaches. St. Edward's relies on plate discipline and pressure, ranking top-10 nationally in walks, while Lubbock Christian leans on slugging, ranking among the top 30 nationally in home runs and slugging percentage .
The pitching staffs are similarly close, with St. Edward's holding a slight edge in earned run average (5.89 to 6.17), while Lubbock Christian counters with a higher strikeout rate and slightly better WHIP .
The two teams met earlier this season in Lubbock, where the Chaparrals took three of four games in a tightly contested series that included a one-run extra-inning opener and a Hilltopper victory behind a strong outing from Freeman .
Admission to all games at Lucian-Hamilton Field is free. All games will be broadcast on FloCollege with live stats available on StatBroadcast.
