PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas -- The University of the Incarnate Word baseball team tied a program-record 29 hits as it defeated Prairie View A&M, 26-12, on Tuesday afternoon at Tankersley Field.
 
HOW IT WAS WON
The Cardinals got off to a hot start in the first inning, scoring seven runs on six hits with a two-RBI double from Ryan Gonzalez, a three-RBI blast from Lee Thomas, an RBI double from Eddy Gonzalez, and a score on a wild pitch by Ridge Rogers.
 
UIW extended its lead in the second inning when a Rogers triple to right center drove in Thomas and Kyle Bergeron. In the third frame, RBI singles from E. Gonzalez, Ryan Flores and Thomas increased the Cardinal advantage to 12-0.
 
The Panthers broke through the shutout with five runs on five hits in the third inning, but UIW responded in the top of the fourth a two-RBI double to right field by E. Gonzalez, giving the Cardinals a 14-5 lead.
 
PVA&M scored three runs on two hits and an error in the bottom of the fourth, but UIW tacked on five runs on five hits in the top of the sixth to go up 19-8.
 
Prairie View used two RBI singles to cut into the lead in the bottom of the sixth frame, but the Cardinals answered with four runs on four hits and two Panther errors in the seventh for the 23-10 lead.
 
PVA&M used a two-RBI home run to cut UIW's lead to 23-12 after seven innings, but the Cardinals plated three runs in the top of the ninth, earning the 26-12 victory.
 
NOTABLES

• Jake Zatopek (4-1) earned the win, throwing two strikeouts in 2.0 innings pitched.
• E. Gonzalez was 4-for-6 -- including two doubles -- with three runs and four RBIs. He leads the team with 18 multi-hit games this season; five of those games have included three or more hits. He also has five multi-RBI games.
• E. Gonzalez is on an 11-game hitting streak and has reached base in 24 consecutive games.
• Five Cardinals -- Mark Whitehead, E. Gonzalez, K. Bergeron, R. Flores and R. Gonzalez -- had four hits on the night.
• UIW is now 6-0 when scoring 10 or more runs; the Cardinals are also 13-3 when scoring in the first inning and 21-3 when scoring first.

 
RECORDS UPDATE
UIW: 25-13
PVA&M: 8-24
 
UP NEXT
UIW travels to Houston for a three-game SLC series against Houston Baptist on Friday-Sunday. Friday's series opener begins at 2 p.m. (CT), while Saturday's game is slated for 1 p.m. Sunday's series finale is scheduled for 2 p.m.
 
STAY TUNED
The Cardinals take on UTSA at Roadrunner Field on April 24 at 6 p.m. (CT).
 
To purchase tickets to any UIW Athletics home event, contact Ticket Sales Coordinator Alma Lara at 210-805-3012.
 
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