STEPHENVILLE, TEXAS – A four run fifth inning was not enough for the University of the Incarnate Word softball team as they dropped their regular season finale to Tarleton State, 6-5 at the Tarleton Softball Complex in Lone Star Conference action on Saturday.  (Box Score)

The Cardinals (30-23, 13-14 LSC) got off to a slow start when the TexAnns (26-22, 14-13) scored two runs in the first inning and one run in the third inning to take an early 3-0 lead.  UIW got on the board in the third inning when Mia Esposito (San Antonio/O'Connor) hit her first home run of the season. 

In the fifth inning the Cardinals put up four runs to gain the late game lead. Victoria Silva (San Antonio/Brandeis HS) drove in two runs with a two-out, bases-loaded single to center field.  Kim Hanson (Devine/Devine HS) followed that up with an RBI single scoring Melanie Padilla (San Antonio/Marshall HS).  UIW took the lead when Whitney Waltrip (Orangevale, CA/Casa Robles HS) singled to score Megan Sotello (San Antonio/Brackenridge HS).

That lead would hold until the seventh inning.  With two outs gone, Arianna Rodriguez hit an infield single and then Bailee Mauldin hit a two-run walk off home run to capture the victory for the Texanns. 

Briana Sanchez (San Antonio/Marshall HS) picked up the loss for the Cardinals going 6.2 innings giving up eight hits and striking out six.  Katelyn Conlee got the victory for Tarleton State going 2.1 innings giving up two hits and zero runs in relief. 

The Cardinals will head to Canyon, Texas next weekend as they will participate in the Lone Star Conference Championships at the Buffalo Sports Park. 
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