FROMM PRESS RELEASE
AUSTIN, Texas – St. Edward’s split a doubleheader against Incarnate Word Friday afternoon at Lucian-Hamilton Field. The Hilltoppers took the first game, 7-5, and dropped game two, 10-7.
In game one, St. Edward’s (21-7, 19-4 HC) and Incarnate Word (19-9, 16-8 HC) both got on the board on the board in the first inning. The Cardinals scored two runs in the first inning on RBI hits by first baseman Dustin Walls and catcher Chris Solis. The Hilltoppers came right back with a four spot of their own in the bottom of the inning. Third baseman Brian Thomas started the scoring with an RBI single to right center. Center fielder Chris Dinges followed this up with an RBI triple. The biggest blow in the inning came when first baseman Dexter Moreno crushed a two-run home run to center field.
Both pitchers settled down after the first inning. The Hilltoppers scored another run in the second inning on an RBI single by second baseman Drew Cross, but did not score again until the sixth inning, when left fielder Bradley Goldsmith scored on a Cardinal throwing error and Thomas produced an RBI sacrifice fly. Incarnate Word scored one run in the sixth inning and two in the seventh, but it wasn’t enough to overcome St. Edward’s, 7-5, lead.
Hilltopper starter Josh Dale (2-0) had a solid outing for the team. Dale worked 5.2 innings, giving up five hits and three runs (no earned runs), while striking out three Cardinal batters. Closer David Wagner tossed 1.1 innings to earn his seventh save of the season.
In game two, the Cardinals got on the board first. Incarnate Word scored two runs in the top of the first inning on a two-run home run by Walls. The Hilltoppers got one run back in the bottom of the inning on a solo home run by Cross.
Each team put a run on the score board in the third inning. St. Edward’s came courtesy of designated hitter Robert Hays’ RBI double down the left field line.
The Cardinals started to distance themselves from the Hilltoppers with a three-run fourth inning, but St. Edward’s wouldn’t go down without a fight. The Hilltoppers scored two runs in the fourth inning. Thomas knocked in a run with a single to left field and Hays had an RBI sacrifice fly.
Incarnate Word tacked on two more runs in the fifth inning, pushing their lead out to, 8-4. St. Edward’s scored another run in the bottom of the seventh inning. Right fielder Mike Hancock slapped an RBI triple to left field.
The Cardinals added two more runs in the eighth inning. St. Edward’s tried to rally in their half of the eighth inning. Hays and Dinges each had RBI singles in the inning but it was not enough to overcome Incarnate Word, who took the game, 10-7.
The Hilltoppers will be back in action Friday as travel to Wichita, Kansas to take on Newman. Game time is set for 3 p.m.
