SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word softball team lost both ends of a Lone Star Conference doubleheader to visiting #10 Texas Woman's on Friday, 3-1 and 6-3 at Cardinals Field. (Game 1, Game 2)

The Pioneers (39-11, 17-5) jumped out to a 2-0 lead after three innings.  They scored an unearned run in the first inning off an RBI single by Katie Hines and then Hines cracked a double to right centerfield to score Amanda Ruiz for the second time in the game in the third inning.

The Cardinals cut the lead in half in the bottom of the fourth inning.  Monica Acuna (San Antonio/Holmes HS) led off with a double, advanced to third on a ground out and scored on a sacrifice fly from Whitney Waltrip (Orangevale, CA/Casa Robles HS).  Unfortunately, that was all the offense the Cardinals would mount in the game.

The Pioneers added an insurance run in the sixth inning on a solo home run by Jordan Readicker.  Larisa Garcia improved to 11-1 in the pitching circle after limiting the Cardinals to three hits, two walks and a run while striking out three in a complete game.

Briana Sanchez (San Antonio/Marshall HS) took the loss for the Cardinals.  She allowed nine hits, two earned runs and a walk while striking out three.

In the second game, the Cardinals took the early lead scoring twice in the first inning.  Waltrip and Kim Hanson (Devine/Devine HS) had back-to-back run-scoring singles with two outs.

The third inning proved to be the difference in the game.  Bailey Vrazel led off the inning with a single for TWU, stole second and scored on Ruiz's single.  The Pioneers proceeded to load the bases with one out for Kendra Sancet who crushed a 1-0 pitch over the centerfield wall for a grand slam.  The Cardinals responded with a run in the bottom half of the inning, but the damage was done.

Ruiz drove in another run for the visitors in the top of the fourth to make it 6-3 Pioneers.  Brandie Lander came on in relief in the third inning and tossed 5.0 scoreless innings to earn the win.  She allowed two hits and had four strikeouts.

Waltrip took the loss for the Cardinals after pitching a complete game.  She allowed 11 hits, six runs and four walks while striking out seven.

The two teams will play the final game of the series on Saturday at noon.
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