Two huge upsets against Texas Woman's and Midwestern left the Cardinals in the Lone Star Conference championship game against a tough Angelo State. Although UIW didn't score first, they came back against the Rambelles for a 6-4 win.  As the third UIW team to reach a championship game in the conference tournament this year, UIW softball is the first to win a title.
 
For the first time in the LSC tournament, the Cardinals did not score first.  Allowing the Rambelles to score in the first inning, the Cardinals were down 1-0 going into the second inning.  They wouldn't stay behind for long. With the bases loaded in the second inning, third baseman Monica Acuna was able to advance home for the tying run after ASU catcher Kacie Easley allowed a pass ball.
 
A single from left fielder Sarah O'Brien would get things started for the Cardinals in the third inning.  Right fielder Alex Yarbrough's sacrifice bunt enabled O'Brien to advance to second before being driven in by designated player Lea Padilla.  With one run in the third, UIW took the lead for the first time in the game and led ASU 2-1.
 
The Rambelles would fight back in the very next inning.  ASU second baseman DeeshanaLynn Tafiti would crush the ball over left field for her 17th homerun of the season.  After four innings, the game was tied at two.
 
The next two innings would be crucial for the Cardinals. With two runs in each inning, UIW was able to extend their lead and grab an LSC championship.  Yarbrough was on base when designated player Lea Padilla stepped up to bat in the fifth inning.  After hitting her seventh homer in the semi-final game against Midwestern, Padilla would hit her eighth against ASU, driving in Yarbrough and giving the Cardinals a 4-2 lead.
 
UIW kept the Rambelles scoreless in the bottom of the fifth and, with two more runs off three hits in the sixth, the Cardinals led ASU 6-2.  With just one more inning, it looked as though the Cardinals had it in the bag.  Not if the Rambelles had anything to do with it.
 
With the conference title on the line, ASU gave it one last attempt in the bottom of the seventh.  A single from designated player Elsamartina Apo would leg in two ASU runs before the Cardinals could end the game and claim the title.  UIW wouldn't let the Rambelles score anymore than those two; however, and sent ASU packing with a 6-4 loss.
 
UIW pitcher Whitney Waltrip started the game for the Cardinals and pitched the first four innings before being relieved by Briana Sanchez who closed the game. Credited with the win, Waltrip is now 11-13.  Between the two of them, they allowed twelve hits and four runs in the Cardinal win.
 
As the Lone Star Conference Champions, UIW will advance to the NCAA Regional Tournament that will begin on May 3.  This is the first time that UIW has received an automatic bid to the NCAA playoffs and the lat time they went was in 2006 - and the Cardinals reached the championship game.  2012 game times and place are to be announced.
 
Six Cardinals made the all-tournament team, including designated player Lea Padilla who nabbed two homers in the tournament and was named tournament MVP.
 
2012 Lone Star Conference Championship All-Tournament Team
Tarleton State shortstop Arianna Rodriguez.
Midwestern State outfielder Courtney Bingham.
West Texas A&M pitcher Marci Womack.
Angelo State second baseman DeeshanaLynn Tafiti.
Angelo State catcher Kacie Easley.
Angelo State outfielder Morgan Spearman.
Angelo State pitcher Mary Kate McKay.
Incarnate Word third baseman Monica Acuna.
Incarnate Word outfielder Sarah O'Brien.
Incarnate Word shortstop Ashley Freeman.
Incarnate Word pitcher Briana Sanchez.
Incarnate Word catcher Sarah Holub.
Tournament MVP Incarnate Word designated player Lea Padilla.
 
Incarnate Word...... 011 022 0 -  6 12  0
Angelo State........   100 100 2 -  4 12  1
 
E - K. Easley(5). LOB - UIW 9; ASU 9. 2B - A. Freeman(3); M. Acuna(5); K. Easley(13). HR - L. Padilla(8); D. Tafiti(17). SH - S. O'Brien(5); A. Yarbrough(3). SF - E. Apo(2). SB - L. Smith(15); C. Walters(11).
 
Win - W. Waltrip (11-13). Loss - M. McKay (20-5). Save - B. Sanchez (2). PB - K. Easley(3). Pitches/strikes: W. Waltrip 88/53; B. Sanchez 75/48; C. Molina 61/37; M. McKay 65/40.