Drew Kimball
FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
AUSTIN, Texas – St. Edward’s rallied from four runs down in game two to sweep a doubleheader from #22 Incarnate Word Saturday afternoon at Lucian-Hamilton Field. St. Edward’s won the first game, 4-3, and rallied to take game two, 9-6.
With the two victories today, St. Edward’s is now tied with Incarnate Word for third place just a half game out of first place.
In game two, Incarnate Word jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the first inning as Tyler Hicks led off the game with a home run. Ethan Lutz also had a three-run blast in the inning as well. It was his first hit of the season.
St. Edward’s (18-11, 17-8 HC) got two of the runs back in the bottom of the first inning when sophomore Dylan Schuch led off with an infield single and came around to score on senior Drew Cross’ RBI-triple. Cross came in to score on an errant pick off throw by the Cardinal catcher.
The Cardinals got both runs back in the top of the second inning when Reno Malay and Richard Torres had back-to-back RBI-singles.
Then the Hilltoppers began to chip away at the lead, scoring three runs in the third inning. Junior Drew Kimball had a two-out double to drive in two runs and senior Mike Hancock picked up a two-out RBI single to cut the lead to 6-5.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, junior Dexter Moreno launched a home run to dead-away centerfield that is probably still traveling to tie the score.
Freshman reliever Jeff Rohrbach came on in relief in the first inning and pitched brilliantly. Even though he gave up two runs on 10 hits he got the big outs when he needed them and kept the Hilltoppers in the game.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Cross laced an RBI-single to centerfield. With the bases loaded and two outs, junior Justin Shufelt tacked on two insurance runs with a two-RBI single.
Junior Jonathan Burns who came on in relief with one out in the top of the sixth, retired the Cardinals in order to pick up the victory. He pitched a spotless 1.2 innings of work while striking out one batter. For the weekend, Burns registered two victories and one save.
In game one both starting pitchers kept the hitters off-balance. Incarnate Word did, however, push one run across in both the second and third innings. Josiah Rodriguez had an RBI-double in the second inning and Malay produced a RBI-single in the third inning.
St. Edward’s answered with two runs in the bottom of the third inning. Senior Robert Hays led off the inning with a walk and came around to score on a two-out single by Schuch. The Austin, Texas native did advance to second base on the throw home and then alertly, took third base with the Cardinals napping. He came in to score when Incarnate Word second baseman Josh Hood couldn’t field a ground ball by Cross.
The Hilltoppers put two more runs on the board in the bottom of the sixth inning. The first two Hilltoppers struck out in the inning. With two outs, Kimball stepped to the plate and launched a solo home run to left field. Junior Jeremy Houser reached base on a hit-by-pitch and came in to score on a two-out single by Cross.
The Cardinals threatened in the seventh inning scoring a run and putting runners on first and third with two outs, but Burns got a fly out to end the game.
Sophomore Dustin Johnson (1-0) picked up his first victory, allowing one run on no hits, while walking three and striking out three batters in 3.1 innings of work.
Burns picked up his fourth save of the season, allowing just one hit in 0.2 innings of work.
The Hilltoppers will be back in action Tuesday when they travel to take on TAMU-Kingsville. The game will begin at 6 p.m. and will be broadcasted on the Hilltopper Athletic Website. Grant Sanregret will handle the play-by-play duties.
St. Edward’s 4, Incarnate Word 3 (Mar 21, 2009 at Austin, Texas) (Game 1)
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Incarnate Word…… 011 000 1 – 3 4 1 (20-9, 17-7 HC)
St. Edward’s…….. 002 002 X – 4 4 0 (17-11, 16-8 HC)
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Pitchers: Incarnate Word – Ramirez,Nathaniel; Smith,Jake(6); Lutz,Ethan(6). St. Edward’s –
Patrick Scholl; Dustin Johnson(4); Jonathan Burns(7).
Win-Dustin Johnson(1-0) Save-Jonathan Burns(4) Loss-Ramirez,Nathaniel(2-1) T-2:11 A-0
HR SEUBB – Drew Kimball (3).
Smith faced 2 batters in the 6th.
St. Edward’s 9, Incarnate Word 6 (Mar 21, 2009 at Austin, Texas) (Game 2)
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Incarnate Word…… 420 000 0 – 6 13 1 (20-10, 17-8 HC)
St. Edward’s…….. 203 013 X – 9 12 0 (18-11, 17-8 HC)
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Pitchers: Incarnate Word – Vasquez,Keith; Caballero,Alfredo(5); Salas,Tommy(6);
Brancheau,Paul(6). St. Edward’s – Brent Davis; Jeffrey Rohrbach(1); Jonathan Burns(6).
Win-Jonathan Burns(4-2) Loss-Caballero,Alfredo(0-1) T-2:27 A-350
HR UIW – Hicks,Tyler (4); Lutz,Ethan (1).
HR SEUBB – Dexter Moreno (7).
Salas faced 1 batter in the 6th.
