EDINBURG, Texas -- Nine Cardinals combined for 13 hits to lift the University of the Incarnate Word baseball team to an 11-4 victory over UTRGV on Tuesday night at UTRGV Baseball Stadium.
 
HOW IT WAS WON
UIW took a 1-0 advantage in the first inning when David Anaya's single to left center drove in Kyle Bergeron.
 
The Cardinals extended their lead in the fourth inning. Ryan Gonzalez smacked an RBI single to right field to plate Ryan Flores. Sean Arnold then used an RBI bunt single to bring home R. Gonzalez, while Lee Thomas scored on a Shea Gutierrez RBI single to left field to put UIW up 4-0.
 
UTRGV used a solo home run to right field in the bottom of the fourth to cut into the Cardinal lead, but UIW responded in the sixth frame, scoring four runs on three hits for the 8-1 advantage.
 
The Vaqueros hit back-to-back RBI singles and took advantage of a wild pitch in the bottom of the sixth to score three runs, but UIW answered again in the seventh. Arnold came home on a Ridge Rogers RBI single to left field, giving the Cardinals a 9-4 lead.
 
UIW added a pair of runs in the top of the eighth. E. Gonzalez scored on a Flores double to right field. R. Gonzalez's single to right center then plated Flores before UIW closed out the 11-4 victory.
 
NOTABLES

• R. Gonzalez (3), Flores (2) and Gutierrez (2) had multi-hit games. Gutierrez also recorded two RBIs and a run, while R. Gonzalez tallied two RBIs and two runs. Flores chipped in two RBIs and two runs as well.
• Six additional Cardinals also tallied hits: Rogers, Bergeron, E. Gonzalez, Anaya, Thomas and Arnold.
• Tyler Perez (3-1) earned the win, throwing five strikeouts in 5.2 innings pitched.

 
RECORDS UPDATE
UIW: 28-18
UTRGV: 21-24
 
UP NEXT
The Cardinals return to Sullivan Field on Friday for a three-game SLC series with Northwestern State. Friday's game is slated for 3 p.m. (CT), while Saturday and Sunday are scheduled for noon starts.
 
STAY TUNED
UIW travels to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on May 11-13. Friday's game is set for a 6 p.m. Saturday's game starts at 4 p.m., while Sunday's game has a 1 p.m. first pitch.
 
To purchase tickets to any 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, follow the Cardinals on Twitter @UIWAthletics and like UIW Athletics on Facebook at UIW Athletics.