AUSTIN, Texas — St. Edward's bounced back from Thursday's setback in emphatic fashion, sweeping Friday's doubleheader behind an offensive outpouring that left little doubt.
The Hilltoppers flooded the bases a day earlier, rally after rally building with nowhere to go, runners stranded as the pressure mounted. On Friday, the dam finally broke.

With storms looming on Saturday, St. Edward's unleashed everything it had been holding back, pouring runs across Lucian-Hamilton Field in an 8-1 Game 1 win before erupting for a 15-5 rout in Game 2.

The breakthrough came immediately and overwhelmingly.

In Game 1, NICO RUEDAS jumpstarted the offense with a two-run homer in the first inning, and St. Edward's methodically built an 8-1 win behind timely execution and constant pressure on the basepaths. Ruedas finished with two hits and two RBIs, DAVID RIPPLE added two hits and two RBIs — continuing to find the gaps in the infield — and CONNOR COX scored twice while driving in a run.

On the mound, CONNOR FREEMAN delivered six strong innings, allowing just one run while striking out five to control the opener, before BRANDON HUFF followed with a steady six-inning effort in Game 2 to secure the sweep.

St. Edward's didn't just take control in Game 2, they overwhelmed Angelo State. Four straight free passes — two walks and a hit-by-pitch mixed into the chaos — loaded the bases and forced Angelo State into survival mode before an out could settle the inning. TREVOR SEBEK's walk during that opening surge etched his name into the record book as the program's all-time leader in career walks, a fitting milestone in the middle of the flood.

From there, the inning spiraled for the Rams.

Run after run crossed as St. Edward's sent 12 men to the plate, turning patience into punishment. DYLAN TATE delivered the decisive blow with a grand slam down the left field line, while the Hilltoppers piled up eight runs before the dust settled.

And they never let up.

Tate finished with five RBIs and three runs scored, CONNOR COX added a two-run homer as part of a three-RBI day, and the Hilltoppers drew 10 walks overall, turning traffic into relentless production. DAWSON STUTZ chipped in two hits and two RBIs, while Sebek added a double to go with his record-breaking walk as St. Edward's finished with 15 runs on 10 hits.

The difference from Thursday to Friday was unmistakable.

Where rallies once stalled, they surged. Where the bases once filled without reward, they overflowed. And with bad weather on the horizon, the Hilltoppers made sure there was nothing left waiting, breaking the dam and letting it all pour out when it mattered most.