After taking two games against Texas A&M-Kingsville last night, the Cardinals headed down the road for a double-header against St. Mary's University.  UIW has met up with the Rattlers twice this season and, before tonight, was 1-1.  After dropping the first game 6-1, the Cardinals would crush St. Mary's in game two 12-6.
 
A single from left fielder Sarah O'Brien in the third inning of the first game was just enough to get pinch runner Taylor Johnson in for the only UIW score of the game.  After giving up a run in the second, the Cardinals tied it up in third.
 
Unfortunately, the fourth fifth innings would be disastrous for the Cardinals.  After giving up three runs in the fourth, UIW would give up another two in the fifth and all five would go unanswered.
 
Unable to find their bats for the remainder of the game and kept scoreless by the Rattlers, UIW would fall to St. Mary's 6-1.
 
UIW pitcher in game one, Whitney Waltrip, made her 21^st appearance of the season and, after the loss, is 9-12.
 
Game two of the double header was a very different story.  Although the Cardinals gave up a run before they scored one, they grabbed one run in the third after a sacrifice fly by third baseman Monica Acuna and didn't let the Rattlers get too far ahead of them.
 
Down 3-1 going into the fifth, the Cardinals made their presence felt with a huge fifth inning.  UIW scored seven runs off seven hits in the fifth and, with three runners left on base at the conclusion of the inning, stole the lead from STMU. 
 
The Rattlers would answer the seven UIW runs with two of their own in the bottom of the fifth, but the Cardinals weren't done bringing the heat.  Another four runs off four hits in the sixth would further the UIW lead and solidify a Cardinal win.  With a 12-6 lead, the Cardinals beat the Rattlers are improved their record to 23-21.
 
Winning pitcher for UIW Victoria Silva made her first appearance for UIW and is now 1-0.
 
The Cardinals will take a day off before resuming conference play with their final home series against the TexAnns of Tarleton State.  Friday's double header is set to start at 3 p.m. and Saturday's game will begin at noon.
 
GAME ONE
 
Incarnate Word...... 001 000 0 -  1  4  1
St. Mary's..........      010 320 X -  6 10  0
 
E - M. Padilla. DP - UIW 1; St. Mary's 1. LOB - UIW 2; St. Mary's 8. 2B - N. Sardelich; Sarah Perez. HBP - T. Vidrine. SH - S. Waltrip.
 
Win - E. Brittain (14-3). Loss - W. Waltrip (9-12). Save - None. HBP - by W. Waltrip (T. Vidrine). Pitches/strikes: W. Waltrip 135/79; E. Brittain 86/59.
 
GAME TWO
 
Incarnate Word...... 001 074 0 - 12 17  2
St. Mary's..........      012 020 1 -  6  8  1
 
E - M. Acuna; L. Salinas; Sarah Perez. LOB - UIW 11; St. Mary's 11. 2B - M. Padilla; L. Benavidez. SH - C. Muskopf; M. Padilla. SF - M. Acuna.
 
Win - V. Silva (1-0). Loss - M. Bissaro (7-3). Save - None. WP - V. Silva. PB - S. Holub; C. Rodriguez 2. Pitches/strikes: V. Silva. 113/59; V. Gutierrez 77/46; M. Bissaro 47/28; C. Keller 6/5.