Saturday's matchup against St. Edward's University was the last in a three-game, non-conference series for both the Hilltoppers and the Cardinals. But Incarnate Word completed the sweep of SEU with a 19-1 victory at Sullivan Field that saw UIW rack up 19 hits to St. Edward's 4.
Incarnate Word (22-12 overall) had four home runs in the contest, including two blasts over the fence by designated hitter John Zule (his fourth and fifth of the year) and single trips 'round the bases by Steven Vidaurri (fourth of the season) and Matt Roohan (team-leading fifth of the year). They also had two triples – one each by Derrick Walls and Brandon Clark – and three doubles – one each by Walls, Daniel Qualls and Hector Flores.
Zule finished going 3-for-4 with 4 RBI and Qualls hit 3-for-4 with 3 RBI. Walls, Vidaurri, Roohan, Matt Flores, Hector Flores and Clark all recorded two hits in the game.
UIW scored six runs in the first inning, chasing the Hilltoppers' starting pitcher before an out had been recorded, and added two runs in the second, five runs in the third, a single run in the fourth and, finally, five runs in the fifth.
St. Edward's (17-16) got their lone run in the fourth inning.
The Cardinals saw starting pitcher Marc Gomez pitch three great innings – facing three batters in each frame – and add to his pickoff total with his fourth and fifth (one in the first and second innings each) and striking out two while walking one and allowing no hits. His 5 pickoffs should put him at the top of the Lone Star Conference in the category as he earned his first win of the season (1-0).
Ethan Lutz saw two innings of work and Will Gonzalez and Justin Kanas each pitched an inning of relief to finish out the game for the UIW bullpen. Lutz had three strikeouts while Gonzalez had one and Kanas finished the game with a 1-2-3 seventh inning that including a groundout to third sandwiched by two strikeouts.
Incarnate Word will play host to Texas A&M-Kingsville this upcoming weekend, starting with a 6 p.m. game on Friday, April 15th and then a Saturday doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.
