CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS - The University of the Incarnate Word baseball team got a taste of the Southland Conference as they were handed a 7-2 loss by the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Wednesday night. (Box Score)

The Cardinals (13-4) got off to an early lead in the top of the first inning when John Zule (San Antonio/Stevens HS) knocked an RBI single up the middle scoring Derrick Walls (San Antonio/Reagan HS). UIW threatened loaded the bases, but stranded three runners to end the inning. 

The lead remained at 1-0 until the bottom of the third inning when the Islanders put together three hits and scored two runs. Brad Porras started the scoring off for Corpus Christi when he drove in a run after getting thrown out at first. Shortly after the Islanders gained the lead when Jonathan Gonzales doubled to left field scoring Eric Weiss. 

Corpus Christi (8-5) never looked back from there. They added four more runs in the fourth inning. Jordan Lee picked up two of his three RBI's on a line shot to left field. A costly two-out error by the Cardinals allowed the Islanders to score two more runs in the inning.

UIW managed to get on the board once more in the fifth inning. Walls scored his second run of the game after Thomas Rinn (Cameron/Yoe HS) grounded out to the second baseman.

Jesus Berduzco (Sacramento, CA/Sacramento City CC) went 3.2 innings giving up six hits and six runs for his first loss of the season. Joe Mills (Allen, TX/Eastfield College) pitched 3.1 innings of relief and gave up just one run on five hits. The Cardinals pounded out nine hits but only managed two runs. They committed three costly errors that lead to three runs. 

Tim Keller lasted 5.0 innings for the Islanders giving up six hits and just two runs to pick up his third win of the season. A&M-Corpus Christi used three more pitchers to close out the game and collectively they allowed just three hits and struck out seven. Offensively the TAMUCC blasted 11 hits, including three doubles. 

Incarnate Word will return to action as they host Texas A&M International at Sullivan Field next Tuesday at 6:00 PM.