The Incarnate Word Cardinals split Friday's doubleheader against Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, Oklahoma, taking game one, 3-2, and losing game two, 6-5.

The split now puts UIW and the Bulldogs in a tie for first place in the Lone Star Conference with a 16-7 conference record heading into the final game of the three-game series tomorrow. Overall, the Cardinals are now 19-11 and SWOSU is 24-10.

In game one, UIW fell behind 2-0 on a pair of single-run innings for the Bulldogs, but in the sixth inning of the seven-inning game, the Cardinals benefitted from a pitching meltdown by SWOSU that started with Hector Flores getting on base after getting hit by a pitch to lead off.

From there, Matt Flores was walked and then both UIW infielders advanced a base on a wild pitch, putting both in scoring position. Then, Derrick Walls made it to first on a fielder's choice, but both Matt and Hector Flores advanced to third and home, respectively, make the score 2-1 with no outs.

The next UIW run came home on a John Zule single (Matt Flores) and Zule moved on to second base while Walls tried to stretch out the play and was thrown out at third base. Another wild pitch allowed Zule to reach third base with the score tied at 2-2 and then Zule scored on another wild pitch after SWOSU had gone to the bullpen and changed pitchers.

The 3-2 UIW lead was generated with only one hit, but that one-run advantage was all that Kirk Jewasko needed to get the victory.. The junior left-hander wrapped up another complete game with just two runs against, having allowed just four hits, and striking out five Bulldogs to improve his record to 7-1.

In game two, UIW jumped out to a 4-1 lead after two innings, but the Bulldogs closed it to 4-3 in the third inning. The Cardinals lead was at 5-4 in the eighth inning when SWOSU tied the game at 5-5 and then took the game in the bottom of the ninth after a lead-off double was advanced to third on a sac-bunt and a single to right field ended it, 6-5.

Game two's starter for UIW, Jorge Guarneros, was not a part of the decision, despite pitching 7 and 2/3 innings and striking out nine opponents.

The Cardinals and Bulldogs will be back in action on Saturday in a 1 p.m. matchup to finish up the three-game Lone Star Conference series.