2018 Schedule

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The Joe DiPietro era begins in two weeks, as The University of the Incarnate Word softball program announced its fall and spring schedules.
 
The Cardinals are scheduled to play seven games during the month of October in preparation of the spring season. This season marks the first as a full-fledged NCAA Division I member, who are eligible for Southland Conference and NCAA postseason play. Below is the fall schedule for the Cardinals:
 
Friday, Oct. 6 – at Cardinal Softball Field
UIW vs. Frank Phillips – 10 a.m.
UIW vs. Hill College – 2 p.m.
 
Saturday, Oct. 14 – at St. Mary's Softball Stadium
UIW at St. Mary's – 10 a.m.
UIW vs. San Jacinto – 2 p.m.
UIW vs. Navarro JC – 4 p.m.
 
Saturday, Oct. 28 – at Roadrunner Field
UIW at UTSA (DH) – 12/2 p.m.
 
UIW begins its 31^st season of softball at the Texas Classic in Austin from Feb. 9-11. The Cardinals are scheduled to compete in two other tournaments: the Baylor Tournament and the Madeira Beach Showcase in Madeira Beach, Fla.
 
UIW returns to the Lone Star state to play at Texas A&M on Tuesday, March 6, before opening Southland Conference play with a three-game series at Sam Houston on March 9-10.
 
After a meeting with the Mavs in Arlington on March 14, the Cardinals host SLC foe, Central Arkansas, in their home opener on March 16-17.
 
UIW welcomes the Kansas Jayhawks to the Alamo City with a doubleheader on Wednesday, March 21, before resuming SLC play at McNeese on March 23-24 – the site of the 2018 SLC Softball Tournament.
 
UIW returns home to enjoy a 10-game home stand, beginning with a non-conference tilt against ULM on March 27. The Cardinals play a pair of Houston teams in HBU and Texas Southern before closing the home stand against SLC member, Northwestern State, on April 6-7, and the start of a home-and-home with UTSA on April 10.
 
The Cardinals play at Abilene Christian on April 13-14 and host Stephen F. Austin April 20-21 before embarking on a five-game road stretch, beginning with UTSA on April 25, then a three-game SLC series at Lamar April 27-28, and closing with Texas on May 2.
 
UIW concludes the regular season with Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on May 4 and Senior Day on May 5.
 
Last season, UIW went 13-40 overall and 6-20 in the SLC. The Cardinals faced some tough competition, which included the No. 4 team in the country at the time – and the eventual national champions – in Oklahoma. UIW won a thrilling 5-4 extra-inning affair at cross-town rival UTSA in late February. The Cardinals return 15 letterwinners from a season ago, including last season's freshman standout, Marcela Lopez, who hit .282 with 19 runs scored and 15 stolen bases.
 
For the most up-to-date information on Incarnate Word Athletics visit uiwcardinals.com. Be sure to follow Incarnate Word Athletics on Twitter @UIWAthletics and like Incarnate Word Athletics on Facebook at UIW Athletics.