Hilltopper comeback prevents Incarnate Word from conference title
SAN ANTONIO, Texas - The St. Edward's baseball team came from behind to defeat Incarnate Word, 7-5, Saturday afternoon at Sullivan Field. The win eliminated the Cardinals from the Heartland Conference Championship race and give UT-Permian their first-ever Heartland Conference Title.
Incarnate Word (36-17, 32-14 HC) opened the scoring in the third inning when Tyler Jett reached on a one-out single. He moved to second on a single by Tyler Hicks and came in to score on an error by Hilltopper second baseman Drew Cross.
St. Edward's (34-22, 31-18 HC) got the run back in the fourth inning when Cross singled home junior Chandler Mosser to knot the score at 1-1.
The Cardinals went back ahead in the fourth inning when with two outs Josh Hood singled to center field. Ethan Lutz drove him in with a double, then, was driven in on a triple by Josiah Rodriguez to put Incarnate Word ahead, 3-1.
Incarnate Word put two more runs on the board in fifth inning when Trey Hogan singled home two runners to put the Cardinals up, 5-1.
That is when the Hilltoppers mounted their comeback. St. Edward's put up three runs on the board in the seventh inning. Junior Daniel Rufini led off the inning with a single and advanced on an error by the leftfielder. After a walk to junior Justin Shufelt and two outs, up stepped senior Robert Hays. The third baseman ripped a two RBI-triple to right field. Hays also came into score on a single by junior Adam Wolotira.
St. Edward's added three more runs in the eighth inning with Hays at it again. He had a two-RBI double to centerfield and senior Stephen McClanahan added a pinch-hit RBI-single to make the score, 7-5.
Junior Jonathan Burns, who came in to start the seventh inning on the mound, held the Cardinals at bay. The righthander threw three hitless innings with three strikeouts to earn the victory.
The Hilltoppers end their season with a record of 34-22 and finish in fourth place in the Heartland Conference.