The four-game series between University of the Incarnate Word and the visiting Abilene Christian University Wildcats showed one thing for certain – it's really hard to win games when you commit multiple errors.
After taking both games in Saturday's doubleheader, the Cardinals (7-8, 2-2) had another game with a lot of errors (seven) and ended up losing to ACU, 13-10, despite coming back to tie the game, 7-7, in the ninth inning.
Trailing 7-4 with just three outs left in regulation, the Cardinals fought back with four hits – all singles – sto score the needed runs to tie the game, 7-7. Things started out with a lead-off single by Hector Flores and he then moved to second base on a pass-ball. Wilson Reuter reached base on an infield single and both runners advanced to third and second, respectively, when another pitch got away from the ACU catcher.
With Flores and Reuter in scoring position, Jordan Littlefield hit a single to center field and scored Flores. Reuter and Littlefield advanced to third and second thanks to a bunt by Adam Pena and then Lucas Miller brought them both home with a 2-RBI single to tie things up.
But after the rally, UIW had trouble in the top of the 10th, surrendering 6 runs on three hits and two errors to put them back in the hole, 13-7. With just three outs left in the extra inning to try and mount another comeback, Incarnate Word got to work.
Greg Barbaro reached first on an error by the first baseman and then advanced all the way to third when Derrick Walls hit a double into center field. Flores, up for his second time in as many innings, got another clutch hit and cracked a double into left field that scored both Barbaro and Walls and made the score 13-9 with no outs.
After a pitching change by Abilene Christian, UIW got another single by Littlefield and Adam Pena was hit by a pitch to load the bases with just one out. Flores would score on a single by Miller (13-10) and the Cardinals kept the bases loaded with Ryan Flowers up to bat.
Flowers had struck out singing in his first at-bat in the 9th and was hoping for some redemption, but what he got was anything but as he made contact and hit the ball towards the ACU shortstop.
Miller slid into second base and was out on the force-out, but Flowers had run hard down the first-base line and seemed to be beyond the base when the ball reached the first baseman. However, the umpire called him out as part of a 6-4-3 ground ball double play and ended the game.
The Cardinal players, coaches and fans all howled in protest, but ultimately there was nothing to be done and both teams had a very peaceful handshake on the field.
In the end, the Cardinals could not overcome the game's seven errors (they had none in both wins on Saturday) and the 6-run 10th that the Wildcats had unloaded on them.
Flores finished the game hitting 4-for-6 with 3 runs scored and 2 RBI (via a 2-run home run) while Miller was an impressive 5-for-6 with 3 RBI and a run scored. Walls, Littlefield, Pena and Jason Stone all had two hits in the game as well.
The next eight games for Incarnate Word are all on the road and the team won't return to Sullivan Field until April 6th and 7th for a pair of doubleheaders against Tarleton State. The first series in the extended road trip is at Angelo State on March 23rd through 25th.
