DENTON, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word was unable to pull off the first round upset over Texas Woman's University in the first round of the NCAA Division II South Central Region Site 1 Tournament on Friday night losing, 2-1 at Pioneer Field. (Box Score)

The Cardinals (30-25) trailed 2-1 heading into the top of the seventh inning when they put together a rally.  Pinch-hitter Kandace Patek led off the inning with single and then Anna Moore (Aloha, OR/Aloha HS) followed with another single.  The No. 6 Pioneers (47-12) promptly brought in relief pitcher Brandie Lander who retired the next three batters to secure the win.

The Cardinals scored their lone run in the fourth inning when they loaded the bases with no outs and Whitney Waltrip (Orangevale, CA/Casa Robles HS) hit a deep fly ball that was caught at the wall and brought in a run.  The team could not push across any more runs in the inning.

The Pioneers scored in the second inning and the Jordan Readicker hit a solo home run in the fourth inning to put them up for good.

The Cardinals finished the game with six hits and drew three walks.  Moore was the only player on the team with two hits.  Briana Sanchez (San Antonio/Marshall HS) took the loss in the pitching circle.  She allowed seven hits, two runs and three walks while striking out three in 6.0 innings.

The Pioneers had seven hits in the game with Readicker and Kendra Sancet each had two hits.  Larisa Garcia picked up the win after allowing six hits, one run and three walks while striking out two.  Lander notched the save in a perfect inning of relief.

The Cardinals will play cross town rival St. Mary's on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. in an elimination game.
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