After splitting games with Texas A&M-Kingsville in a double header last week at their place, the Cardinals took on the Javelinas again and, this time, swept them. With an 8-0 win in five innings in game one, the Cardinals squeaked by for a close 2-1 win in game two.
The first three innings of the first game didn't generate much for either team. Both the Cardinals and the Javelinas were scoreless through the third inning. The Cardinals would actually keep TAMU-Kingsville scoreless for the entire game. Likewise, pitcher
Briana Sanchez (15-9) would hold the Javelinas to just three hits.
UIW broke the scoring barrier and went ahead of the Javelinas for the first time in the fourth inning. After first baseman
Chelsea Muskopf was walked and second baseman
Melanie Padilla was hit by a pitch, right fielder
Whitney Waltrip hit a double that earned her two RBIs. Third baseman
Monica Acuna would hit a single up the middle that would drive in Waltrip and the Cardinals ended the inning with a 3-0 lead.
The fifth and final inning of the game was even bigger for UIW. Waltrip hit a huge double to left field that legged in three runs for the Cardinals. After that, with one runner on base, Acuna hit a homer over center field and, with two more runs, ended the game.
The second, while it didn't have as many runs, was still a UIW win. The Cardinals made their first strike at the Javelinas in the second inning. Waltrip reached first on a fielder's choice and, after a double to right field by Acuna, made it home for the Cardinal's first score of the game.
The Cardinals wouldn't score again until the sixth inning. Right fielder
Alex Yarbrough singled to center field and, with the help of pinch runner
Taylor Johnson, scored off a double by Waltrip. Despite three hits in the sixth inning, the Cardinals would only score one run.
Making a last ditch attempt to come back, the Javelinas managed to grab one run in the top of the seventh, but the UIW defense held them to just one run and pulled out another win.
The Cardinals will play their final home games of the season later this week against the TexAnns of Tarleton State. Friday's double header will begin at 3 p.m. and Saturday's game is set to start at 12 p.m.
GAME ONE
Texas A&M-Kingsville 000 00 - 0 3 1
Incarnate Word...... 00 35 - 8 6 1
Note: 2 outs, 0 runners LOB when the game ended.
E - B. Offill; W. Waltrip. LOB - Javelinas 7; UIW 3. 2B - A. Yarbrough(10); W. Waltrip 2(6). HR - M. Acuna(7). HBP - M. Padilla. SH - L. Padilla.
Win - B. Sanchez (15-9). Loss - D. Arnold (7-15). Save - None. HBP - by D. Arnold (M. Padilla). Pitches/strikes: D. Arnold 106/63; B. Sanchez 86/52.
GAME TWO
Texas A&M-Kingsville 000 000 1 - 1 5 0
Incarnate Word...... 010 001 X - 2 8 1
E - A. Freeman. LOB - Javelinas 10; UIW 7. 2B - W. Waltrip(7); M. Acuna(4). HBP - A. Bodnar.
Win - W. Waltrip (9-11). Loss - L. Denney (1-7). Save - None. HBP - by W. Waltrip (A. Bodnar). Pitches/strikes: L. Denney 106/63; W. Waltrip 142/90.
