After a huge upset in the Lone Star Conference championship quarterfinals against Texas Woman's, UIW took on Midwestern State; who they lost to twice during the regular season.  With a 6-0 lead going into the seventh inning, the Cardinals held on to their lead for a solid win and a birth to the LSC championship game.
 
As they did yesterday, the Cardinals scored first and did it early.  Lead off batter and shortstop Ashley Freeman tripled to get things going for UIW.  A single from second baseman Melanie Padilla would drive Freeman in for the Cardinal's first run of the game.  Designated player Lea Padilla hit the ball hard down the left field line for a huge double that would leg in two more runs.  With five hits and three runs at the end of the first, the Cardinals had the lead early.
 
UIW would make their way back onto the scoreboard in the third inning.  With the Mustangs still scoreless, right fielder Whitney Waltrip singled and Lea Padilla hit a bomb to center field for a two run homer.  This would be Padilla's seventh home run of the season.   Only needing one more out to end in the inning, the Mustangs gave up a single to third baseman Monica Acuna and a significant double to catcher Sarah Holub that would earn UIW one more run.  At the end of the third, the Cardinals had extended their lead to 6-0.
 
Both teams would remain scoreless for the next three innings.  Going into the seventh, the Cardinals were in a comfortable place and had maintained their six run lead.
 
The Mustangs weren't going to go out without a small fight.  After back-to-back singles followed by a two run single, the Mustangs were closing the gap on UIW.  Nonetheless, MSU was only able to earn three runs in the seventh before the Cardinals grabbed three outs and sent the Mustangs back to their dugout and eliminated them from the LSC championship tournament.
 
Pitching for the Cardinals again was junior Briana Sanchez.  Holding MSU to just eight hits and three runs, compared to UIW's 13 hits and six runs, Sanchez is 17-10 going into the championship game.
 
The Cardinals will take on the winner of the West Texas A&M vs. Angelo State game in the LSC championship tonight at 6 p.m. UIW met up with both teams three times each during the regular season and went 1-2 with both of them.
 
Midwestern State.... 000 000 3 -  3  8  0
Incarnate Word......  303 000 X -  6 13  0
 
LOB - MSU 6; UIW 6. 2B - K. Jerrick(14); L. Padilla(9); S. Holub(1). 3B - A. Freeman(7). HR - L. Padilla(7). HBP - C. Ford. SB - N. Duff(13). CS - A. Freeman(2).
 
Win - B. Sanchez (17-10). Loss - B. Hennan (7-11). Save - None. HBP - by B. Sanchez (C. Ford). Pitches/strikes: B. Hennan 61/39; L. Glenn 46/33; B. Sanchez 107/77.