In a pair of pitcher’s duels the St. Edward’s softball team swept a doubleheader against St. Mary’s Sunday afternoon at Diane Daniels Field.
With the win, St. Edward’s (28-17, 13-3 HC) gained a half-game edge for second place in the Heartland Conference over St. Mary’s (28-17, 13-4 HC).
The game remained scoreless for the first three-and-a-half innings as Rattler starting pitcher Taryn Munoz and Hilltopper starting pitcher Paige Sandahl (Sophomore, Dripping Springs, Texas) held their opposition to one hit apiece. With one swing of the bat, Meagen Bailey (Sophomore, Lake Jackson, Texas) homered to put the Hilltoppers ahead 1-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning.
The Rattlers quickly returned fire in the top of the fifth inning, evening the score at 1-1.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Hilltoppers retook the lead when Courtney Lavender (Junior, Houston, Texas) tripled to score a run.
Sandahl (15-7) finished the job in the seventh inning to pick up the 2-1 win. It was Sandahl’s 10th complete game of the season. Munoz (17-11) received the loss for the Rattlers despite surrendering just three hits to the Hilltoppers.
In the second game, the Hilltoppers fell behind 2-0 early. But in the fourth inning, Lana Jo Hairston (Sophomore, Lake Jackson, Texas) blasted a three-run home run to give the Hilltoppers the lead.
The one-run lead proved to be all that the combination of Hilltopper starting pitcher Diana Cezeaux (Junior, Houston, Texas) and Sandahl needed as the Hilltoppers claimed a 3-2 victory.
Cezeaux (10-8) was the winning pitcher and Sandahl picked up her first save of the season for two innings of work. Crystal Keller (4-4) received the loss for the Rattlers.
Hilltopper shortstop Lexi Stephens (Junior, Baytown, Texas) had three of the team’s eight hits. Hairston’s home run was her first of the season.
The Hilltoppers will return to action Monday for the final game of the series against the Rattlers. The first pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Diane Daniels Field.