In game one of a three game series, Incarnate Word's comeback bid fell just short in a 6-5 loss to Texas Women's University.

Starting pitcher Briana Sanchez only gave up five hits in a losing effort. She didn't receive any help from the offensive side of the ball early in the game. The Cardinals produced zero runs in the first four innings of action.

The Pioneers got on the board early scoring two runs in the first inning.  Addison Staley drove in the game's first run after tripling to right field. Shortly after, TWU extended their lead after Katie Hines drove in a run after a sacrifice fly. The Pioneers drove in two runs in both the third and fifth innings after a little help from the Cardinals defense. Incarnate Word committed three errors in the ball game.

Bailey Vrazel added four stolen bases for the Pioneers. Vrazel is the national leader in stolen bases, now with 64 on the season.

The Cardinals bats suddenly got hot starting in the fifth inning. Alex Yarbrough got UIW's first run on the board after doubling to center field, scoring Taylor Johnson. Lea Padilla added one more run in the sixth inning after she homered to left field. For Padilla, that was her 5^th homerun of the season.

In the seventh, the Cardinals put up a fight to try and gain the lead late in the game. Two consecutive singles and stolen bases got two runners in scoring position. Johnson eventually scored on a ground out by Monica Acuna and Mallory Henry scored after an illegal pitch by Katie Hines. The Cardinals cut it to a one run game after Whitney Waltrip drove in one run with a single. With two outs in the seventh, trailing 6-5, UIW had the bases loaded.  Sarah O'Brien grounded out to third to end the game, allowing the spectators at Pioneer Stadium to take an exhale of relief.

Incarnate Word and Texas Women's will finish out the series with a doubleheader starting at 1:00 PM tomorrow. Live stats can be found at twuathletics.com
 
Incarnate Word    0 0 0 1 1 3 | 5 | 10 | 3
Texas Women's    2 0 2 0 2 X  | 6 | 5 | 0

(W) Katie Hines 16-4
(L) Briana Sanchez 14-8

HR: Lea Padilla (5)