ABILENE, TEXAS – For the second time this year the University of the Incarnate Word baseball team lost to Abilene Christian.  On Friday night, the Wildcats won 12-8 in the first of four Lone Star conference games this weekend at Crutcher Scott Field. (Box Score)

The Cardinals (14-5, 0-1) scored twice in the top of the first inning, but that was the last time they would lead.  The Wildcats (13-9, 1-0) responded with four runs in the bottom half of the inning and built up an 11-3 lead before the Cardinals scored five times in the seventh inning to make the final score closer.

The Cardinals committed five errors that led to four unearned runs for the Wildcats.  ACU pounded out 13 hits in the game.  Kendall Giusti led the team going 4-for-5 at the plate with two runs, two RBI's and a double.  Travis Schuetze had two hits, two walks, a triple, run scored and an RBI.  Austin Palmer picked up the win for the Wildcats after striking out nine and allowing three runs in 6.0 innings.  Brady Rodriguez pitched 2.0 shutout inning to earn his fourth save of the year.

The Cardinals finished the game with nine hits.  John Zule (San Antonio/Stevens HS) led the offense by going 2-for-5 with two runs and three RBI's.  Derrick Walls (San Antonio/Reagan HS) was 1-for-2 with a run scored, three walks and a stolen base.  Jordan Scelfo (Tucson, AZ/Salpointe HS) and Zac Russell (San Antonio/Smithson Valley HS) each were 2-for-2 in the game.  Geno Encina (San Antonio/Brandeis HS) was handed his first loss of the season on the mound.

The teams play a doubleheader at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
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