PORTALES, NEW MEXICO – The University of the Incarnate Word softball team split a double-header with Lone Star Conference rival Eastern New Mexico on Friday at Zia Softball Field.  The Cardinals (18-11, 4-4) won the first game, 5-1, but the Zias (9-25, 2-6) bounced back and won the second game, 5-4, breaking the Cardinals' four-game win streak. (Game 1, Game 2)

Back-to-back doubles from senior Monica Acuna (San Antonio/Holmes HS) and junior Whitney Waltrip (Orangevale, CA/Casa Robles HS) in the third inning of the first game got things started for the Cardinals and gave them a 3-0 lead going into the fourth.

The Cardinals would continue scoring in the fourth inning.  A triple from sophomore Taylor Johnson (Schertz/Clemens HS) would be good enough for an RBI and sophomore Alex Zepeda's (Sinton/Sinton HS) single would bring Johnson in, increasing the Cardinal lead to 5-0.

The Cardinals would give up a run off a single in the bottom of the seventh, but would hold onto a 5-1 lead to wrap up the game.  

Eastern pitcher Katie Ramsay (2-14) was handed the loss after giving up five hits and five runs in 3.1 innings, while relief pitcher Alberta Medina kept the Cardinals scoreless and allowed just one run in 3.2 innings.

Senior pitcher Briana Sanchez (San Antonio/Marshall HS) improved her record to 10-4.  She allowed four hits and picked up six strikeouts against the Zias.

In the second game, the Cardinals quickly had 1-0 lead off a Zia error in the first inning.  Eastern's Erica Armendarez would answer with a three-run homer in the bottom of the inning, giving the Zias a 3-1 lead that they would hold onto until the fourth inning.

A single from junior Shelby Waltrip (Orangevale, CA/Casa Robles HS) would drive in a Cardinal run in the fourth, but again Eastern would answer with a run of their own and maintain a 4-2 lead going into the fifth.

Two unearned runs in the fifth would tie the game up at four for the Cardinals. The Cardinals were in good position to score in the sixth with runners at first and third with no outs, but could not deliver and the game remained tied going into the seventh.

The Zias held the Cardinals scoreless in the top of the seventh inning and then Kyra Sirag came through with a two-our run-scoring single to end the game.  Zias pitcher Mary Jo Granger pitched 4.0 innings and allowed five hits and three runs. Alberta Medina pitched the other 3.0 innings of the game giving up one hit and one run. Media was credited with the win and improved her record to 2-7.

Waltrip started the game for the Cardinals, but after allowing seven hits and four runs was pulled after four innings.  Sanchez replaced and allowed two hits and one run in 2.2 innings and took the loss.

The Cardinals will close out the series against the Zias on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. at Zia Softball Field.
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