SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word softball team upset visiting Lone Star Conference rival Midwestern State on Thursday night, 6-5 at Cardinals Field. The win was UIW's (21-12, 5-5) third 6-5 win in a row. (Box Score)
 
The scoring got started early for both teams.  A two-run homer to left field from Midwestern's Katelyn Vinson in the top of the second gave the Mustangs (23-10, 5-5) an early 2-0 lead.  UIW Junior Whitney Waltrip (Orangevale, CA/Casa Robles HS) doubled with no outs in the bottom of the inning to put the Cardinals in scoring position. Two batters later, Waltrip made it home after senior Kim Hanson (Devine/Devine HS) grounded out to shortstop to make it 2-1.

The Mustangs got the third inning started with another home run. This time, Kim Jerrick knocked a solo home run over the left field fence.  Another MSU run late in the inning would give MSU a 4-1 lead heading into the bottom of the inning.

The Cardinals bounced back in the bottom of the third after senior Monica Acuna (San Antonio/Holmes) singled to left field to drive in sophomore Alex Zepeda (Sinton/Sinton HS).  It was her team-high 25^th RBI of the season.

In the fourth, the Cardinals cut the Midwestern lead to one.  The Mustangs added a run in the top of the inning, but the Cards responded in the bottom half of the inning.  Hanson hit a solo homerun to left field, giving the Cardinals their third run of the game. An RBI from junior Ashley Freeman (Canyon Lake/Smithson Valley) closed the gap to 5-4 heading to the fifth inning.

UIW held the Mustangs scoreless for the first time since the first inning in the fifth.  Waltrip scored an unearned run off a single from Hanson to tie the game at 5-5.

After brilliant defense and a huge catch from sophomore left fielder Taylor Johnson (Schertz/Clemens) left the Mustangs scoreless again in the sixth, the Cardinals came out swinging.  Sophomore Victoria Silva (San Antonio/Brandeis) drove in Zepeda to give the Cardinals a one-run edge over the Mustangs entering the final inning of the game.

Defense played a large role in the game as the Cardinals only committed one error while the Mustangs had three errors leading to three unearned runs.

Senior Briana Sanchez (San Antonio/Marshall) pitched all seven innings for the Cardinals and allowed 11 hits and five runs in the game.  Sanchez also picked up eight strikeouts in the victory to improve to 12-6 on the year.

Lacy Belovsky (15-5) practically matched Sanchez pitch-for-pitch, allowing 11 hits and six runs. The loss put Belovsky at 15-6 on the season.

The Cardinals will finish off the series with the Mustangs tomorrow with a doubleheader at Cardinals Field at noon.
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