SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word and Angelo State played a pair of one run baseball games on Saturday with each team winning one at Sullivan Field.  The Rams (17-10, 3-4) won the first game, 9-8 in extra innings and the Cardinals (16-10, 2-5) won the second game, 5-4. (Game 1, Game 2)

In the first game, the Cardinals jumped out to a big advantage scoring six times in the fourth inning.  Ryan Pudwell (Lodi, CA/Lodi HS) had the big hit of the inning, a two-run triple and later scored on a squeeze bunt from Derrick Walls (San Antonio/Reagan HS).

The Rams got back in the game in the fifth inning.  They loaded the bases with one out, but Jesus Berduzco (Sacramento, CA/Foothill HS) was able to get a strikeout and it appeared he was going to get out of the inning unscathed when he ran the count to 0-2 on Reggie Rodriguez.  Rodriguez came through for the visitors with a three-run double on the next pitch.

In the sixth inning, the Rams scored four times, including a pair of unearned runs to take a 7-6 advantage.  They only needed two hits in the inning as they took advantage of three walks and an error.

The Cardinals reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the sixth.  John Zule's (San Antonio/Stevens HS) two-out triple tied the game and then Thomas Rinn (Cameron/Yoe HS) followed with a single to make it 8-7 Cardinals.

ASU tied the game in the seventh using only a walk, stolen base, sacrifice bunt and wild pitch to send the game to extra innings.  ASU took the lead in the ninth when Hunter Choate blooped a single into right field with two outs to score Ryan Greer.
Bryant Rutledge pitched the final 3.1 innings of the game to earn the victory.  He allowed one hit and struck out two.  Geno Encina (San Antonio/Brandeis HS) took the loss after allowing one unearned run in 2.1 innings.

The Cardinals snapped a five game losing streak in the second game with a hard fought victory.  UIW trailed on two different occasions in the game, but got a solid pitching performance from Alex Shaffer (Seattle, WA/Nathan Hale HS) who went 6.2 innings allowing nine hits, two earned runs and four walks while striking out seven to stay in the game. 

The game went to the bottom of the seventh inning tied 4-4.  Pudwell led off with a single and then Zac Russell (San Antonio/Smithson Valley HS) laid down a bunt and the Rams tried to get the lead runner, but everyone was safe.  Walls followed with a perfect bunt down the third base line to advance the runners and Pudwell came home to score the winning run after the third baseman's throw went wild.

The Cardinals only got six hits off ASU starting pitcher Jake Feckley, but took advantage of every Ram misplay.  UIW scored three unearned runs in the third inning and only had one earned run in the game.  Lukas Miller (Boise, ID/Timberline HS) drove in two runs with a double while Puwell went 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI.  The Cardinals committed three errors, but received a great game from Russell who threw out three potential base stealers.  Encina picked up the win by striking out the only batter he faced.

The Rams had nine hits in the game including back-to-back triple by Lee Neumann and Andrew LaCombe that led to two runs in the third inning.

The teams will play the final game of their Lone Star Conference series on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Sullivan Field.
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