SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – It was a monumental game and series for the University of Incarnate Word softball team as they were able to sweep visiting Houston Baptist University for their first conference series sweep since joining the Southland Conference in 2014 after a 2-1 victory on Saturday.
           
Freshman Darianne Hale (Mesquite/Bishop Lynch HS) made the start in the pitching circle for UIW (14-20, 5-7) and she pitched a gem earning her second victory of the season. Hale went the full 7.0 innings allowing only one earned run on eight hits while also striking out three batters.  She was able to retire the leadoff batter in every inning and most of the hits she allowed came with two outs.
           
It was a pitcher's duel as both teams struggled to score runs although the Cardinals did have 10 hits in the ballgame. UIW scored first with a run in the bottom of the second inning when Shelbi Swenson (Elgin/Elgin HS) drove in Natali Duron (Pasadena/Pasadena Memorial HS) to give the Cardinals an early lead. The Huskies (10-19, 2-10) scored a run in the top of the sixth inning after Cecilia Bauer doubled to left center scoring Libby Brown to tie the game at 1-1.
           
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Alex Alonzo (San Antonio/Smithson Valley HS) started things off with a pinch hit walk.  The Cardinals were able to load the bases after Monique Miller (Hewitt/Midway HS) singled and Mikaela Flores (Lockhart/Lockhart HS) walked setting the stage for Bridget Gauvin (Winnipeg, Manitoba/College Louis-Riel) who delivered a pinch-hit walk-off single to give UIW the 2-1 victory.
Miller led the team with three hits and Swenson added two hits and an RBI. Gauvin was the hero at the plate with the walk off hit in the bottom of the seventh inning.
           
The Huskies had eight hits at the plate with Brown, Demi Janak, and Bauer each contributing two hits.  Bauer had the team's only run batted in and the Huskies left six runners on base.
           
After starting both games in yesterday's doubleheader, Laci Belovsky once again made the start for Houston Baptist and she went the full distance going 6.1 innings giving up two earned runs on 10 hits.  Belovsky was charged with the loss which is her 11^th of the season.  

The Cardinals will return to action next Friday when they travel to Abilene Christian University for a three game series starting on Friday with a doubleheader at 5 p.m. followed by the series finale on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Poly Wells Field.
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