The Cardinals played their last regular season game at home on Saturday afternoon against the Texanns of Tarleton State.  After honoring seniors Sarah O'Brien, Chelsea Muskopf, Sarah Holub, Kelley Moritz and Lea Padilla, the Cardinals fell to the Texanns 4-2.
 
Both teams struggled to find their bats early in the game.  After two Tarleton runners advanced on a UIW fielding error in the third with just one out, it looked like they might score first.  The Cardinals managed to recover from that error and wrap up the inning without any Tarleton runs.
 
In that same inning, center fielder Mallory Henry would hit a triple to right field that would drive in short stop Melanie Padilla for the first score of the game.  After the third, the Cardinals led the Texanns 1-0.
 
Another UIW fielding error in the top of the fifth would leave Texann runners on second and third with a very small 1-0 Cardinals lead.  A single from Tarleton pitcher Samantha Swanda would be enough to leg one runner in before UIW could get their third out, tying the game at one.
 
Melanie Padilla tried to answer the Tarleton run with a one run homer in the bottom of the fifth, but Texann right fielder Kelsey Latta caught the ball with her back against the outfield wall.  After the fifth, the game would remain tied at one.
 
With three up, three out and a huge double play for the Cardinal defense, UIW found themselves back up to bat against a tough Tarleton defense.  Lead off hitter O'Brien and next hitter Lea Padilla would both hit singles before third baseman Monica Acuna stepped into the box.  Acuna's sacrifice bunt would advance both runners.  Right after that, Muskopf would bomb one to center field and, after Tarleton's center fielder dropped the ball, O'Brien was able to make it home.  Going into the last inning of the game, the Cardinals led Tarleton 2-1. 
 
With just a one run lead, the Cardinals couldn't afford to give up anything in the top of the seventh.  Unfortunately, after a single from Latta and a double the Cardinal outfield couldn't seem to deal with from Tarleton left fielder Arianna Rodriguez, the Texanns were right back in it and the score was 2-2.  UIW pitcher Whitney Waltrip walked the next two batters and, with two outs in the seventh, the bases were loaded.  The Cardinals finally grabbed the third out they needed and went into the bottom of the inning hoping to win the game and stay away from extra innings.
 
A strike out and two caught foul balls from the first three UIW batters sent the Cardinals back to their dugout to get ready for an eighth inning.
 
Henry started the eighth inning off with a bang – literally.  After Texann third baseman McKaylee Pittmann crushed one towards center field, Henry caught the ball right before it went over the fence, slamming into the wall in the process.  A fly out and a Waltrip strikeout would quickly end the top of the eighth without any Tarleton runs.  The Cardinals wouldn't generate any runs in the eighth either, and to a ninth inning they went!
 
 With two outs, the Cardinals were almost out of the woods in the top of the ninth before first baseman Katie Welborn smacked one over center field for a two run homer and a 4-2 Texann lead.  The Cardinals wouldn't be able to rally against the Texanns and, after nine innings, fell to Tarleton 4-2.
 
Waltrip allowed just seven hits and four runs in the Cardinal loss.  Waltrip is now 10-13.  The Cardinals managed seven hits and two runs against Texann Pitcher Samantha Swanda.
 
Finishing the regular season 27-22 overall and 12-15 in the Lone Star Conference, the Cardinals have already clenched a spot in the LSC tournament.  Those games will take place on April 27-28 in Denton, TX.  Game times are to be announced.
 
Tarleton State......   000 010 102 -  4  7  1
Incarnate Word...... 001 001 000 -  2  7  2
 
E - K. Latta; M. Padilla; M. Acuna. DP - UIW 1. LOB - TARLETON 9; UIW 8. 2B - A. Rodriguez. 3B - M. Henry(2). HR - K. Welborn. HBP - K. Moritz. SH - A. Rodriguez; A. Tammen; A. Sotelo; S. O'Brien; M. Acuna. SB - M. Henry(9).
 
Win - S. Swanda (17-8). Loss - W. Waltrip (10-13). Save - None. WP - S. Swanda. HBP - by S. Swanda (K. Moritz). Pitches/strikes: S. Swanda 136/95; W. Waltrip 155/94.