SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Six solid innings of work by pitcher Tyler Perez and an eighth-inning solo shot from Kyle Bergeron were the winning recipe for the University of the Incarnate Word baseball team on Sunday as the Broadway Birds secured a 3-2 victory at Daniel Sullivan Field.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
The Cardinals (5-3) scored first when Mark Whitehead drove Bergeron in on a sac fly to center.
 
Drama ensued in the fourth. Aaron Case led off for the Billikens (1-7) with a shot down the left field line that was emphatically ruled a foul by third base umpire Matt Hanson. After wildly gesturing that the ball was foul three times, Hanson turned his body and motioned the ball fair. UIW left fielder Eddy Gonzalez slowed to a brisk jog after the ball was initially ruled foul, and his change of pace allowed Case to reach second. After a lengthy discussion between Head Coach Patrick Hallmark and the officiating crew, the ball was ruled fair and Case was awarded a double. Three batters later, Saint Louis notched a sac fly that sent Case home and tied the ballgame.
 
In the fifth, Whitehead crushed a leadoff triple down the right field line. One out later, David Anaya sent a fly ball to right field that looked like it would score Whitehead from third, but a perfect throw from Jake Garella prevented the run and ended the inning.
 
Tyler Perez struck out the side in the sixth, setting up UIW in position to retake the lead in the bottom of the frame.
 
Bergeron drew a leadoff walk, before advancing to third on a perfectly executed hit-and-run play with a Kyler Genenbacher single through the right side. After a pitching change, Bergeron alertly came home on a wild pitch, and the Cardinals regained the lead, 2-1.
 
The advantage was short-lived as the Billikens retied the game in the seventh on a Carter Hanford single that scored Jake Garella.
 
Bergeron put UIW back on top in the eighth, launching a solo shot over the left field wall that sailed just over the glove of leaping outfielder Parker Sniatynski. The play would prove to be the game winner.
 
Saint Louis put a runner on second in the ninth and advanced him to third on a fly out to right center, but a 5-3 putout from Anaya to Ryan Flores sealed the victory.
 
LEADERS
 
Bergeron led the Cardinals with a 1-for-2 outing, 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored, including the game-winning home run in the eighth. Whitehead went 1-for-2 and scored a run, while Anaya, Genenbacher, Flores, Ridge Rogers and Nick Diaz each registered a hit on the afternoon.
 
Garella paced the Billikens with a 2-for-4 performance and a run scored.
 
Jake Zatopek got the start for UIW, allowing just 1 run on 1 hit through 3.0 innings of work. He fanned 3 batters and walked 1. Perez (1-0) earned the win, tossing 6.0 innings with 1 run on 4 hits. He retired 7 batters without a walk.
 
Ryan Lefner (0-1) took the loss, surrendering the game-winning home run in the eighth. He pitched 3.0 innings and allowed 2 hits, while striking out 2 batters.
 
UP NEXT
 
The Cardinals travel to College Station for a Wednesday battle with No. 10 Texas A&M at 6:30 p.m.
 
STAY TUNED
    
UIW hosts a four-game series with Northern Illinois, beginning Friday at 6:30 p.m.
 
To purchase tickets to any UIW Athletics home event, contact Ticket Sales Coordinator Alma Lara at 210-805-3012.
 
For the most up-to-date information on UIW Athletics visit uiwcardinals.com. Be sure to follow UIW Athletics on Twitter @UIWAthletics and like UIW Athletics on Facebook at UIW Athletics.