KINGSVILLE, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word and Texas A&M-Kingsville played a tightly contested doubleheader at Hubert Field on Tuesday night with each team winning an extra-inning game.  The Cardinals (30-20, 13-11) won the first game, 2-1 and the Javelinas (13-35, 2-22) won the second game, 7-6. (Game 1, Game 2)

In the first game, UIW senior Briana Sanchez (San Antonio/Marshall HS) dueled Denise Arnold of the Javelinas.  The score was tied 0-0 through five innings, but the Cardinals finally broke through in the sixth inning.  Monica Acuna (San Antonio/Holmes HS) led off the inning with a walk and Victoria Silva (San Antonio/Brandeis HS) followed with a double.  After one out was recorded, Kandace Patek (Magnolia/Tomball HS) came through with an RBI single.

It looked like Sanchez would record a shutout, but the Javelinas came through in the bottom of the seventh inning.  Rose Stubbs led off with a single and went to second on a wild pitch.  With two outs, Kodie Garner came through with a game-tying single.

In the top of the eighth inning, Melanie Padilla (San Antonio/Marshall HS) led off with a single.  Acuna followed with a double to score Padilla to give the Cardinals a 2-1 lead.  In the bottom half of the inning, the Javelinas loaded the bases with no outs.  Sanchez bore down by striking out a batter and then the game ended on a line drive double play.

Sanchez allowed nine hits, one run and three walks in 8.0 innings while striking out nine to earn the win.  Arnold took the loss allowing nine hits, two runs and a walk while striking out eight.

In the second game, the Javelinas jumped out to a big 4-0 lead.  Stubbs led off the inning with a single and then the next three batters walked to force in a run.  Krista Leal and Bailey Offil each hit RBI singles to make it 3-0 and then a fielder's choice made it 4-0.

UIW starting pitcher Whitney Waltrip (Orangevale, CA/Casa Robles HS) helped her own cause in the top of the second inning with a two-run home run.  The Cardinals made it 4-3 in the third inning on a sacrifice fly by Silva.  They tied the score in the fifth inning on a run-scoring double by Silva.

The Javelinas reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning.  Carynn Gonzales reached on an error to lead off the inning.  With two outs, Stubbs came through with an infield single and then Gonzales came around to score on another Cardinals error.
The Cardinals came right back in the top of the sixth inning.  Waltrip led off with a single and went to second on a sacrifice bunt.  With two outs, Shelby Waltrip (Orangevale, CA/Casa Robles HS) came through with an RBI double to tie the game.

The game went extra innings and the international tie-breaker rule took effect in the eighth inning since it was being played as a non-conference game.  The Cardinals scored a run in the top of the eighth inning, but the lead would not last long.  The Javelinas tied the game on a 1-out single by Stubbs who promptly stole second base.  She scored the game-winning run on Jaeleen Castro's single.

Katrisha Arocha picked up the win for the Javelinas going the full 8.0 innings.  Stubbs led the offense with three hits, two runs and an RBI. 

Whitney Waltrip took the loss in a complete game, but led the offense going 2-for-2 with two RBI's, two runs and a home run.  Patek also drove in two runs and Patek finished with two hits.

The Cardinals close out the regular season at Lone Star Conference rival Tarleton State on Friday with a doubleheader at 5 p.m. and a single game on Saturday at noon.
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