In what must seem like old times Incarnate Word opened its softball season with a split of games in the St. Mary's tournament; games against former Heartland Conference foes.
This spring the Cardinals will play as members of the Lone Star Conference. But first UIW will play the first four games of its season against old Heartland foes. The schedule began with a 2-1 win over Texas-Permian Basin (0-1) followed with a 5-2 loss to St. Edward's.
In game one at the SAISD Spring Sports Complex, righthander Briana Sanchez continued her mastery in the circle. She went seven innings allowing the one earned run on three hits while walking three and striking out 11.
Trailing 1-0, Sanchez got the two runs she needed in the bottom of the sixth inning. Kaylen Skinner, 2-3 on the day with a double, had a one-out single to right field to send home Whitney Waltrip. Sarah O'Brien then followed with a single to left which allowed Kim Hanson to score.
Both Skinner and Waltrip were two out of three at the plate as the only ones with multiple hits. Skinner's double was the only extra base hit for the Cardinals.
Game two was a 5-2 loss to St. Edward's, another Heartland foe.
Down 1-0 in the fifth, UIW got a pair to take the lead. Monica Acuna singled to left to score O'Brien who had opened the frame with a leftfield double. Chelsea Muskopf, who had walked, scored following a Lea Padilla sacrifice fly to right.
After St. Edward's exploded for four in the bottom of the sixth, Incarnate Word loaded the bases in the seventh with one out. Alyssa Gonzales opened with a double to left before Muskopf singled to right and Melanie Padilla walked. However a double-play ended the threat and gave the Hilltoppers (1-0) the win.
The Cardinals continue their slate of games against Heartland teams on Sunday when they engage Texas A&M International at noon and St. Mary's at 4 p.m. Both games are set for the Spring Sports Complex.
GAME ONE
UTPB 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 -- 1 3 1
UIW 0 0 0 0 0 2 X -- 2 9 0
GAME TWO
UIW 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 -- 2 8 1
SEU 0 1 0 0 0 4 X -- 5 8 1
