St. Edwards Drops a Pair of Tough Luck Losses to Newman in Season Opening Double Header in Austin
Newman 7 - St. Edwards 6
The St. Edwards Hilltoppers found themselves one run shy of pulling out a win in each of their games in Monday’s season opening double header. In game one Newman used a seven run fifth inning to overcome a 5-0 deficit and take a 7-6 win. In game two they jumped out to a 3-0 lead before holding of a later Hilltoppers rally to claim an 8-7 decision.
Stephen Johnson got the start for St. Eds in game one and struck out five over his first four innings of work. Meanwhile the Hilltopper bats found some success against Newman starter Steven Trevino by picking up a run in the first inning when Dylan Schuch doubled and came around to score on a throwing error.
St. Eds went back to work with the bats in the bottom of the fourth picking up four runs on three hits.
Justin Shufelt led off with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. An error put runners at the corner and set the stage for Tim Redden who delivered an RBI single to left. Adam Wolotira then stepped to the plate and sent a 3-RBI shot over the fence in left center field putting the Hilltoppers up 5-0.
Newman responded in the top of the fifth inning with 7 runs of their own. Brandon Cox got things started with a single to center field before Johnson issued a walk to Trent Bierman that seemed to open the flood gates. Newman would send 10 batters to the plate in the inning before St. Eds Matthew Anderson, who came on in relief of Johnson, picked off a runner at first base to get out of the inning trailing by two runs at 7-5.
Eric Morgan delivered an RBI single for the Hilltoppers in the sixth inning but Newman reliever Zach Biery went on to earn the save by giving up two hits and striking out two over two innings of work to help down the Hilltoppers 7-6.
St. Eds totaled 10 hits in the game with Adam Wolotira going 2-for-3 on the day with two RBI. Justin Shufelt was 2-for-4 with a run scored.
Newman had seven hits and was led at the plate by Kori Melo who went 2-for-3 with three RBI.
Newman 8 - St. Edwards 7
In game two Newman used three first inning hits to jump out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. They pushed another run across in the second inning despite two strikeouts by St. Eds starter Paul Smith.
St. Eds bounced back and cut into the lead in the third inning. Daniel Rufini led off with a single and two batters later Sean Hilbi came up with an infield single to put runners at first and second. Newman starter Brent McKinnon then got Eric Morgan to fly out for the second out of the inning but issued a two walk to Adam Wolotira to load the bases for Jeremy Houser. With the pressure on, McKinnon hit Houser with a pitch to force in a run and then came back to walk the next batter before getting a fly out to escape further damage and preserve the lead at 3-2.
McKinnon settled down and gave up just the two runs over seven innings of work while striking out two. Newman scored a total of four runs off St. Eds starter Paul Smith and then greeted reliever Brad Nasis by scoring four runs on five hits over his three innings of work. Most of the damage came in sixth inning when they scored four runs on three hits with the Hilltoppers committing three errors.
Newman reliever Zack Biery struggled over his two innings of work giving up five runs on four hits while issuing two walks. Even though he struggled to hold the lead he managed to quite the St. Ed bats in the ninth inning giving up a hit before getting Eric Morgan to line out for the final out of the game for the 8-7 win.
