St. Edward's University

HOUSTON, Texas -St. Edward's freshman Stacy Giles homered to left field in the seventh inning to tie the game, 1-1, with Emporia State and force extra innings in the semifinal game Saturday at the NCAA Division II World Series. The Hilltoppers fell, 2-1, to the Hornets after 13 innings of play to end their season with a school-record 53 wins.

Emporia State (48-17) scored in the bottom of the first inning. Two singles and a sacrifice bunt placed leadoff batter Jessie Wiard at third base. Miranda Campbell singled to center field to score the run and give the Hornets the early lead.

Each team was able to manage just three hits before the start of the seventh inning, including doubles from St. Edward's (53-17) senior Karen Varteressian and Giles. The Hilltoppers held strong in the top of the seventh with a home run from Giles, her fourth on the season and second in the National Tournament.

The Hornets were unable to answer in the bottom of the inning. This was followed by five more scoreless innings.

In the 13th inning, Jenna Potter hit a leadoff double for Emporia State. She moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and was able to score when Angela Mahan put the ball in play. Their win, 2-1, would advance the Hornets to the Championship game and end the season for the Hilltoppers.

Senior Robin Becker pitched the first 3.2 innings and allowed only five hits and one run. Freshman Diana Cezeaux (25-9) would toss the next 8.2 innings allowed just four hits and struckout six batters.

St. Edward's made several notches in the record book this season, including freshman Lexi Stephens with the most hits in a single season (100). Stephens also leads with the most at bats (238) and runs scored (58). She is second with an overall batting average of .410 and third in stolen bases (37). Freshman Courtney Lavender broke the record for doubles (18) and senior Kristen Lozano tied the record for triples at seven. Lozano now leads with 62 runs batted in, is second in slugging percentage (.642) and moved to third in home runs (10). With 47 runs scored she has tied her own record from 2007 and a .368 batting average ties her at seven with Monica Rich (1996).

Senior Mandy Phillips notched a new record of five sacrifice flies and hit 15 doubles to tie with Erin Wortham (2003) for third. With 131 and 112 total bases, Lozano and Stephens have moved into third and fifth. Giles is second with a season 29 walks and Varteressian has broken her own record of nine (2004, 2005) hit by pitch with 14 this season.

Lavender (.995), Lozano (.989), Varteressian (.985) and Giles (.985) led the Hilltopper offense and each earned their place in the record book.

On the mound, Becker set a new record with 11 shutouts and Cezeaux was close behind with another eight. Becker (28) and Cezeaux (25) also set the new record for wins in a single season. Becker had three saves to tie for second while Cezeaux moved into first with 236 strikeouts and an opponent batting average of .183. Each pitcher completed 20 games this season to tie with Erica Reyes (1996) for second.

Four seniors set new records with their career totals. Varteressian and McSheffery lead with 251 and 249 games played in their four-year careers. Becker is second with a total 60 wins and leads with 151 appearances and 18 shutouts. On defense, McSheffery, Mandy Phillps and Varteressian lead in assists with 529, 475 and 450 assists respectively.

After coming in third in their first-ever NCAA National Tournament appearance, St. Edward's will be sad to say goodbye to five senior leaders, Becker, Lozano, McSheffery, Phillips and Varteressian but will look to their 2009 season as the defending South Central Regional Champions.