Dylan Schuch
FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
AUSTIN, Texas – The St. Edward’s baseball team took two games from Newman Saturday afternoon at Lucian-Hamilton Field. The Hilltoppers took the first game, 13-1, and claimed victory in the second contest, 5-1.
In game one, St. Edward’s (4-3, 3-1 HC) took advantage of an absolute offensive explosion. The Hilltoppers scored 13 runs on 15 hits. They did not even need nearly this much offensive firepower because they held Newman (1-3, 1-3 HC) to only one run.
First baseman Dexter Moreno led the way in game one. Moreno went 3-4 with three RBI’s and three runs scored. Right fielder Justin Shufelt and designated hitter Justin Rufini were each 3-4, driving in two runs each. Center fielder Chandler Mosser hit his third home run of the season and left fielder Dylan Schuch set the tables out of the leadoff spot, collecting two hits and scoring twice.
On the mound for St. Edward’s in game one, Tim Laine (1-1) put on an impressive performance. Laine worked six innings, giving up one run on three hits and striking out nine Jet hitters. Chris Sharp also chipped in with a scoreless inning of relief.
In game two, both pitchers stepped up and baffled hitters. Freshman Patrick Scholl (1-1) got the start for the Hilltoppers. Scholl picked up the win, going five scoreless innings, giving up three hits and striking out five Jets. On the other side of the diamond, Adam Clerici (0-1) took the tough loss. Clerici went the distance, but gave up three earned runs in this loss.
St. Edward’s was scoreless until the third inning when second baseman Drew Cross scored Mosser with an RBI single to shortstop.
The Hilltoppers added two more runs in the fifth inning. Schuch and Cross each had RBI singles in the inning.
St. Edward’s tacked on two more in the sixth inning. Rufini drove a solo home run over the left field fence and Schuch drove in a run with a perfectly executed safety squeeze bunt. This put the Hilltoppers up for good, 5-1.
Schuch and Cross led the way in game two. They each collected two hits and drove in two runs. Mosser was 1-2 and scored a run.
The Hilltoppers will be back in action Friday afternoon to open a weekend series against Lincoln. The first pitch is set for 12 p.m. at Lucian-Hamilton Field.
