SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Sophomore Bailey Thomas hit a grand slam, and accounted for all five Cardinals' runs in the game one win, as the University of the Incarnate Word split a Southland Conference doubleheader with Central Arkansas, winning game one 5-3 and dropping game two 6-5 Friday evening from Cardinals Field.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Game 1: UIW 5, UCA 3
After UCA scored a pair of runs in the top of the fourth on a pair of sacrifice flies, the Cardinals answered in the bottom half of the frame, as Bailey Thomas hit a two-out, monstrous grand slam to left field as the Cardinals took a 4-2 lead.

The Bears cut the deficit to one in the top of the fifth, only for the Cardinals to answer with a key insurance run in the bottom of the sixth, as Thomas hit a suicide squeeze that allowed Marissa Ruiz to score for the Cardinals' fifth run and a two-run lead.
The Bears led off the top of the seventh with a double, but Sarah Leal got a strike out, ground out, and a pop up to end the game.

Thomas had the big hit for the Cardinals and accounted for all five of the Cardinals' RBIs.  Leal (4-4) earned the complete game win, as she allowed five hits and two earned runs, while tying her career high of six strikeouts.

Oakley Sisemore went 2-for-3 for the Bears. The Cardinals gave reigning Southland Conference Pitcher of the Week, Rio Sanchez, her fourth loss of the season, as the freshman allowed four hits, four runs (zero earned), and three walks with five strikeouts.

Game 2: UCA 6, UIW 5
UIW broke a scoreless tie with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth, as Jaylin Olivarez hit a two-run double.

The Bears took a 3-2 lead in the top of the fifth on Kate Myers' three-run blast to left. The Cardinals threatened in the bottom of the fifth, with runners at first and second following a Hope Sobolewski single, which chased starter Kailla Searcy. Reliever Rachel Haberman got a fly out to end the threat.

UCA doubled their lead with three runs in the top of the sixth to take a 6-2 lead. UIW got a run back in the bottom half of the frame, but it could have been a bigger inning for the Cardinals, who had bases loaded and nobody out.

Breanna Hernandez pitched out of a bases loaded jam in the top of the seventh to keep the Cardinals within striking distance.

The Cardinals got two runs in the bottom of the seventh to make it a one-run game, 6-5. With the tying run at third, Olivarez hit a hard grounder to third, which went off the baseman's glove, but right to the short stop. The throw beat Olivarez by half a step to end the game.

Monica Flores and Delaney Guzman each had two hits for the Cardinals. Hernandez (0-5) took the tough loss in the circle, as she allowed 12 hits, six runs (three earned), and two walks with one strikeout.

Kaylyn Shephard went 3-for-4 to lead UCA. Starter Searcy got the win, while Ellie Reaves earned the save.

UP NEXT

The Cardinals and Bears end the three-game series Saturday at noon. Saturday's contest features a special price for fans to receive a ticket for admission and a limited-edition St. Patrick's Day themed shirt, while supplies last. For more information, please contact Alma Lara at 210-805-3012.

STAY TUNED

UIW hosts Kansas in a mid-week doubleheader next Wednesday, March 24 beginning at 3 p.m.

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.