SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word picked up a pair of victories on Tuesday against visiting Oklahoma City at Cardinals Field, 8-3 and 6-4. (Game 1, Game 2)

The Cardinals (17-10) opened the scoring in the first game by taking advantage of a first inning error by the Stars (24-6).  Melanie Padilla (San Antonio/Marshall HS) cracked a double and later scored on an outfield error.  They tacked on another run in the fourth inning when they used two walks, a sacrifice bunt and a sacrifice fly to go up 2-0.

The Stars came back in the top of the fifth inning.  With two outs and a runner on first base, Kyndra Holasek walked and then LeeAnn Lopez followed with an RBI single.  Drew Wright gave OCU their first lead on a two-run double.

The Cardinals took the game over in the bottom of the fifth inning.  The first five batters reached base via four walks and a bunt single to take a 4-3 lead.  Another walk forced in the fifth run of the game and then freshman Courtney McCoy (Hutto/Hendrickson HS) broke the game wide open with a three-run double.  Senior pitcher Briana Sanchez (San Antonio/Marshall HS) took it from there and retired six of the final seven batters of the game to improve to 9-5 on the season.

Sanchez allowed five hits, three runs and four walks while striking out 10 in the game.  Elizabeth Oberst took the loss after giving up six hits, seven earned runs and seven walks while striking out five in 6.0 innings.

In the second game, the Stars quickly scored in the first inning to take an early lead.  The Cardinals tied the game in the bottom of the second when Taylor Johnson (Schertz/Clemens HS) came through with a clutch two-out single to drive in Whitney Waltrip (Orangevale, CA/Casa Robles HS) who doubled to start the inning.

OCU regained the lead in the third inning.  Holasek drove in the first run with a triple and came in on a ground out from Lopez.  Wright doubled and then Johnson came through with a huge defensive play when she threw her out at home after a single by Magean De La Torre to end the inning.

The Cardinals added a run in the bottom of the third, but the Stars regained the two-run lead with another run in the fifth inning.

The game turned in the bottom of the fifth inning for the second straight game.  Victoria Silva (San Antonio/Brandeis HS) got things started with a one out double and UCO decided to take out starting pitcher Jamie Rateliff and brought in Oberst.  She walked the first batter, allowed a single to Waltrip and then walked in a run.  Trailing 4-3, McCoy came through again with a two-run double to give the Cards a 5-4 lead.  They would add one more run before the inning ended.

Waltrip started the game in the pitcher's circle and was given the chance to toss a complete game.  In the sixth inning, she walked two batters, but induced a ground ball to end the inning.  In the seventh, the Stars lead off batter reached base via the only Cardinal error of the day.  After a strikeout, Rateliff came within an inch of tying the game with a home run, but the ball miraculously hit the top of the fence and bounced straight up and into the hands of Alex Zepeda (Sinton/Sinton HS) who held Rateliff to a double.  Angela Lovelady had a chance to tie the game and on a 1-1 count she hit a hard line drive that was snagged by third baseman Monica Acuna (San Antonio/Holmes HS) who tagged the runner on third to end the game.

The Cardinals had nine hits in the game as Silva and Waltrip each had a pair of hits.  Waltrip scattered 10 hits and four walks while striking out three to earn the win.

The Stars had four players with multiple hits in the game, including three by Rateliff.  She also pitched 6.0 innings allowing seven hits, three runs and three walks in a no-decision.  Oberst was tagged with the loss.

The Cardinals are back in action this weekend when they travel to Lone Star Conference rival Eastern New Mexico.
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