SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word softball team ended their four-game winning streak, dropping two games in a doubleheader against St. Edwards on Wednesday at Cardinals Field. The Cardinals lost the first game, 9-1 and the second game, 12-3 in five innings. (Game 1, Game 2)
 
The Cardinals got off to a rough start in game one when Hilltopper designated hitter Ally Valdez hit a two-run homer over center fieldin the top of the first inning. The Cardinals would hold St. Edward's scoreless until the fourth inning, but the Hilltoppers would earn three more runs before the Cardinals made their way onto the scoreboard.
 
A single from second baseman Melanie Padilla (San Antonio/Marshall) would push right fielder Taylor Johnson (Schertz/Clemens) past home plate and would give the Cardinals their only score of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning.
 
The Hilltoppers would pick up five hits and four runs in the seventh to seal the deal, grabbing a 9-1 win in game one. Cardinals pitcher, senior Briana Sanchez (5-1) was given her first loss of the season and only pitched the first five innings of the game. Sanchez allowed eight hits and five runs. Freshman Kandace Patek (Magnolia/Tomball HS) relieved Sanchez and pitched the last two innings of the game, allowing five hits and four runs.
 
Pitching for St. Edwards was Sarah DeBrow (7-6) who allowed two hits and one run in the Hilltopper victory.
 
The second game of the doubleheader opened with a scoreless first inning, but the Hilltoppers would not wait too much longer before getting on the board.  Marissa Thome drove in a run in the second inning and scored a run in the third inning on another homer from Valdez.
 
The Hilltoppers would add another run to their lead in the top of the fourth, but the Cardinals would finally put up some runs in the bottom of the inning. With a runner on base, first baseman Kim Hanson (Devine/Devine HS) would send a bomb over centerfield, good for two Cardinals runs.
 
St. Edward's would rally in the fifth inning. First to bat was Valdez and she crushed the ball over right field for her third homerun of the series, giving the Hilltoppers a 5-2 lead. Two singles and a double from pinch hitter Emily Mayfield would give St. Edwards another run. Valdez hit her fourth homer of the series and third of the game at the end of the fifth, batting in three more runs. At the close of the inning, the Cardinals trailed St. Edwards 12-2.
 
A triple from Patek followed by a sacrifice fly from freshman Courtney McCoy (Hutto/Henderickson) would give the Cardinals one more run, but would not be enough to keep the game alive. After five innings, the Cardinals fell to St. Edwards 12-3.
 
Junior Whitney Waltrip (3-4) pitched 4.2 innings of the second game for the Cardinals and allowed 13 hits and 11 runs. Patek would close out the game for the Cardinals and allowed one hit and one run.
 
Katelyn Lug (1-4) allowed five hits and three runs to pick up her first win of the season for St. Edward's.
 
The Cardinals are back in action on Friday against Abilene Christian in Abilene at 7 p.m. After Friday's game, UIW will play ACU in a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 p.m. This will be the Cardinals' first Lone Star Conference series of the season.