SAN ANGELO, TEXAS – One day after tossing a three-hit shutout at #23 Angelo State, University of the Incarnate Word junior Whitney Waltrip was back at it again on Sunday in a 1-0 win in Lone Star Conference softball action at the ASU Softball Complex. (Box Score)

Waltrip allowed a pair of first inning singles before retiring 17 of the next 18 batters to put the Cardinals (25-15, 8-7) in position for a critical LSC series win.  The Belles' (25-12, 10-5) Sandra Serna nearly matched Waltrip pitch-for-pitch, but she faltered briefly in the fourth inning.

Ashley Freeman led off the top of the fourth inning with a single and advanced to second on Melanie Padilla's sacrifice bunt.  Monica Acuna followed with a run-scoring double supplying the only run of the game.  Serna pitched a complete game allowing five hits and two walks while striking out one.

In the bottom of the seventh inning it looked like the Belles might pull out the win.  Lauren Smith led off with a single and then April Breshears walked.  The Cardinals brought in Briana Sanchez to try to close out the game.  Lanie Robinson greeted Sanchez by reaching base on an error to load the bases with no outs.  Sanchez was able to bear down inducing an infield pop up, then a grounder to third to get a force out at home and she finished off the game with a strikeout.

Waltrip improved to 11-7 on the season while Sanchez earned her first save of the year.  Waltrip allowed four hits and one walk while striking out nine batters.

The Cardinals are back in action on Friday at 4 p.m. at home in a doubleheader against LSC rival West Texas A&M.
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