SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word finished off a four-game sweep of Lone Star Conference rival Cameron University on Saturday in baseball action at Sullivan Field. (Game 1, Game 2)

The Cardinals (20-11, 6-6) got a pair of strong pitching performances from Alex Shaffer (Seattle, WA/Nathan Hale HS) and Geno Encina (San Antonio/Brandeis HS) who each tossed complete games.  The Cards won the first game, 6-4 on a walk-off home run by Adam Pena (Mission/Sharyland HS) and took the second game, 3-2.

In the first game, the Aggies (8-20, 2-10) jumped out to an early lead over the Cardinals.  Nick Smith led off with a single and came around on Kevin Waukau's two-out double.  Kaz Sanders followed with a single to centerfield to make it 2-0.

The score remained 2-0 in favor of the Aggies until the bottom of the fifth inning.  Zac Russell (San Antonio/Smithson Valley HS) started the UIW rally with a one out double.  Derrick Walls (San Antonio/Reagan HS) followed with an RBI triple and scored on Thomas Rinn's (Cameron/Yoe HS) single.  Rinn scored the go ahead run when he advanced to second on a wild pitch and kept running to third.  The catcher's throw to third base went wild allowing him to cross the plate.

The Cardinals added another run in the sixth inning.  Jordan Scelfo (Tucson, AZ/Salpointe HS) stroked a two-out double and pinch runner Aaron Warren (San Antonio/Texas Southern) stole third base.  Russell came through with a single to right field to drive in Warren.

In the top of the seventh inning, the Cardinals defense let them down as they allowed a pair of unearned runs.  The Aggies tied the game on Waukau's sacrifice fly that brought in Smith.

In the bottom of the seventh, Blake Woosley (Corvallis, OR/Corvallis HS) hit a single and was able to advance to second base on a wild pitch.  However, it looked like the game was destined for extra innings when Pena hit a deep fly to right field with two outs that carried over the wall and delivered the victory.

Shaffer improved to 4-1 on the season for the Cardinals after allowing nine hits, one walk and two earned runs in 7.0 innings.  He only had one inning where he retired the side in order, but prevented the big inning.  He added three strikeouts.  The Cards had four players with two hits apiece and finished with 11 for the game.

Cody Hudson took the loss for the Aggies in relief.  He allowed four hits and three runs in 1.2 innings.

The second game was a low-scoring affair, but Encina was up to the task for the Cardinals.  He scattered seven hits and one walk over 9.0 innings while striking out nine batters.  He cruised through the first five innings and then gave up a double and triple to start the sixth inning, but held the Aggies to just a run in the frame.  He retired the side in the seventh inning and gave up an unearned run in the eighth.  With the team clinging to a 3-2 lead he went out for the ninth inning allowing a hit and his only walk, but induced a pop up by Kevin Lum to earn his fifth win of the season.

The Cardinals scored lone runs in the second, third and fifth innings.  Each time they only had one single in the frame, but were able to take advantage of walks, hit by pitches and wild pitches.  Despite getting only five hits in the game, the Cardinals left runners on base in every inning.

Aaron Kleekamp took the loss for the Aggies.  He allowed five hits, four walks and three runs in 5.0 innings.  Reliever Tim Eason pitched 3.0 shutout innings giving up no hits and three walks.

The Cardinals are back in action on Friday at Tarleton State at 3 p.m.
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