SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word and Cameron University split a softball doubleheader on Friday at Cardinals Field.  The Aggies (7-14, 1-4) won the first game 5-4 in 10 innings and the Cardinals (14-8, 3-2) won the second game, 9-1 in five innings. (Game 1, Game 2)

In the first game, the Cardinals held a 3-0 lead late in the game, but the Aggies mounted a strong come back and picked up their first Lone Star Conference win in extra innings.  UIW scored first getting a solo home run from Shelby Waltrip (Orangevale, CA/Casa Robles HS) in the fourth inning and then scoring two more times in the fifth.

UIW starting pitcher Briana Sanchez (San Antonio/Marshall HS) appeared to be cruising with a no-hitter through 3.2 innings and a shutout through five innings.  In the top of the sixth, the Aggies came alive.  With two outs and a runner on first base they put together two straight hits to score their first run.  After a walk, Sonora Zukerman tied the game at 3-3 with a two-run single.

The Cardinals had runners in scoring position in the seventh and eighth innings, but could not score the winning run.  In the 10th inning the international tie-breaker rules were applied allowing each team to place a runner at second base to start the inning.  Spencer Farrell led off the top of the inning with a double to score a run and then she later came around to score on a sacrifice fly to make it 5-3.  UIW was able to score a run in the bottom half of the inning, but were unable to tie the game.

The Aggies had eight hits and were led by Tara Martini and Leslie Martini.  Tara went 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI while Leslie was 2-for-5 with a run and an RBI.  Kelsey Hebert pitched 7.0 innings while allowing seven hits and two earned runs in a no-decision.  Samantha Betts earned the win with 3.0 shutout innings of relief.  Sanchez took the loss to fall to 8-2 on the season despite striking out 13 in a complete game.

The second game was all Cardinals.  Whitney Waltrip (Orangevale, CA/Casa Robles HS) led the way going 3-for-4 at the plate with a double, home run, two runs and three RBI's.  She also earned a complete game victory in the circle after allowing three hits, one run and one walk while striking out six.  The Cardinals scored in four of five innings to win by 8-run rule.

The Cardinals pounded out 14 hits in the contest.  Alex Zepeda (Sinton/Sinton HS) was 3-for-4 with two runs scored while Kim Hanson (Devine/Devine HS) went 3-for-3 with a run scored and two RBI's.  Victoria Silva (San Antonio/Brandeis HS) was 2-for-2 with her first home run and two RBI's.  Monica Acuna (San Antonio/Holmes HS) also had two hits and drove in two runs.

The two teams will conclude their three game series on Saturday with one game at noon.
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