INCARNATE WORD 7, ABILENE CHRISTIAN 6
What a day sophomore shortstop Melanie Padilla had for Incarnate Word. As a result the Cardinals won the rubber match from Abilene Christian by a 7-6 count and the weekend Lone Star Conference South Division series by 2-1.
The victory got UIW to 18-14 on the year and to 5-4 in the LSC. Abilene Christian, which had begun the series atop the South Division, is now 20-16 including 6-3 in league play.
But back to Padilla.
With the Wildcats leading 6-2 heading into the top of the sixth, with two outs the Cardinals got consecutive singles from Lea Padilla, Whitney Waltrip and Monica Acuna to send one run home. Up steps Melanie Padilla and out of the park goes the ball. three RBI and the game is tied 6-6.
A day before Acuna collected a four-RBI grand slam in a Cardinals win.
The game rocked along into the eighth inning. She led off for UIW. She hit another beyond the fence and Incarnate Word had the lead. All Waltrip had to do was slam the door on ACU. She allowed a single but otherwise she got the three necessary outs and Melanie Padilla's blast stood up.
Waltrip got the win, her fifth of the year against eight losses. And it was her second of the weekend.
UIW 0 1 0 0 1 4 0 1 -- 7 21 0
ACU 2 0 1 3 0 0 0 0 -- 6 12 0
RECORDS:
Incarnate Word 18-14 (5-4)
Abilene Christian 20-16 (6-3)
