NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The University of the Incarnate Word baseball team picked up its first road win of the season on Thursday, earning an 8-1 victory over Stephen F. Austin, behind Tyler Miller's nine strikeouts and solid offensive output from Ryan Gonzalez and Mark Whitehead.

HOW IT WAS WON

The Cardinals (17-11, 6-4 SLC) scored first for the 18^th time this season, taking advantage of a shaky opening inning by the Lumberjacks (9-16, 3-4 SLC) to secure a 1-0 lead. Whitehead led off with a single up the middle, before three of the next four batters walked to force in a run.

Two innings later, UIW added a pair. David Anaya drew a leadoff walk, before advancing to third on a Lee Thomas double to right center. One pitch later, Ridge Rogers sent Anaya home with a single through the right side. Thomas eventually scored on a single to left off the bat of Ryan Gonzalez.

SFA got on the board in the fifth, when Nic Minor came in on a single from Nick Daley.

The Cardinals took a stranglehold on the Lumberjacks in the eighth, capitalizing on mistakes by SFA to score five runs on just one hit. Whitehead drew a leadoff walk, before Kyle Bergeron was hit by a pitch. Eddy Gonzalez moved both runners up with a sac bunt, and a throwing error allowed him to reach first safely. The error also gave Whitehead and Bergeron an extra base, scoring Bergeron and allowing Whitehead to take third. Anaya subsequently reached on a fielder's choice, sending Whitehead home. Another walk, this time by Rogers, loaded the bases, before Ryan Gonzalez notched a two-RBI double to left field. Ryan Flores followed with a sac fly to left that drove Rogers in.

Miller struck out two of the final four Lumberjacks he faced, before giving way to Ramon Salazar in the ninth. Salazar surrendered a single to open the final frame, but a 643-double play and foul out ended the contest.

LEADERS

Ryan Gonzalez led UIW with a 2-for-5 night and 3 RBIs, while Whitehead finished 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored. Rogers went 1-for-3 with 2 RBIs, 2 walks and 1 run, while Anaya managed two runs and an RBI in the victory.

Skylar Black paced SFA with a 2-for-4 outing.

Miller (3-2) earned the win, sitting down 9 batters without surrendering a single walk through 8.0 innings on the mound. He held the Lumberjacks to 1 run on 4 hits.

Jake Norton (0-1) took the loss, surrendering 3 runs on 2 hits through 2.0 innings on the hill. He struck out 2 Cardinals and walked 6.

NOTEABLES

Including Thursday's game, UIW is 15-3 when scoring first. The Cardinals are 2-8 when their opponent scores first.

Thursday's victory marked the first road win of the season for UIW. The Cardinals were previously 0-6 on the road, with losses at No. 8 Texas A&M, Kansas State, Central Arkansas and No. 30 Texas State.

Anaya's 20-game hitting streak and Bergeron's 12-game hitting streak were both snapped on Thursday, but the pair combined for 3 runs scored and an RBI in the win.

UP NEXT

UIW and SFA will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Friday. Saturday's series finale is scheduled for 1 p.m.

STAY TUNED

The Cardinals host a three-game series with Texas Southern, 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.