SAN ANGELO, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word softball team split a pair of games with Lone Star Conference rival Angelo State on Saturday night losing the first game, 4-3 in nine innings and bouncing back to pick up a significant 3-0 win in the second game on the road. (Game 1, Game 2)

In the first game, the #23 Rambelles (25-11, 10-4) would score single runs in the first, third and fourth innings.  The Cardinals (24-15, 7-8) would not go down without a fight.  A homer to left-center from Whitney Waltrip (Orangevale, CA/Casa Robles HS) in the second inning would tie the game at one.

A run in the fifth would put the Cardinals within one and another bomb over left field from Waltrip in the sixth would tie the game at three going into the seventh inning.

As the game went into extra innings, the Cardinals managed hits in both the eighth and ninth innings, but could not drive in a run. With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, a walk and two UIW wild pitches would give the Rambelles a run and end the game, 4-3 in favor of ASU.

Briana Sanchez (13-7) (San Antonio/Marshall) was tagged with the loss after allowing five hits and four runs in 9.0 innings in the loss.  The Cardinals had 12 hits in the game.  Ashley Freeman (Canyon Lake/Smithson Valley) went 3-for-5 while Monica Acuna (San Antonio/Holmes) and Waltrip each had two hits and combined for three RBI's.

The win went to Sandra Serna who allowed 12 hits, three runs and three walks while striking out two in all nine innings.
After hitting two homers in the opener, Waltrip came back in the second game with a pitching gem.  She allowed three hits and three walks while striking out four in a complete game victory. 

The Cardinals grabbed the early lead in the second game when Alex Yarborough (Boerne/Borne HS) cracked a single to center field to drive in Acuna for a Cardinal score and a 1-0 UIW lead heading into the third inning.

In the third, the Cardinals would push in another run to extend their lead to two. This time, Acuna picked up the RBI when her sacrifice fly to center field gave Alex Zepeda (Sinton/Sinton HS) time to get to home.

Kim Hanson (Devine/Devine HS) gave the Cardinals another insurance run in the sixth inning.  Her one-one out single drove in Acuna to make it a 3-0 Cardinals lead.

Waltrip improved to 10-7 on the season and did not allow a hit over the final 3.2 innings.  She found herself in trouble in the sixth inning when she walked the bases loaded, but was able to get out of the jam.  Offensively, Acuna scored twice for the Cardinals and had one hit while Yarborough, Victoria Silva (Brandeis/Brandeis HS) and Freeman each picked up two hits.

Mary Kate McKay was credited with the loss for the Rambelles and allowed three runs off nine hits.  McKay also picked up six strikeouts.

The Cardinals will close out the series with the Rambelles tomorrow at 2 p.m at the ASU Softball Complex.
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