CANYON, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word dropped a 6-4 decision on Friday afternoon to Angelo State in the first round of the Lone Star Conference Tournament held at West Texas A&M's Schaeffer Park.

The Cardinals (30-24) led through the early innings.  They jumped out to a 1-0 lead after a Whitney Waltrip (Orangevale, CA/Casa Robles HS) RBI double in the top of the second inning.  After the Belles (35-15) tied the game in the bottom of the second, the Cardinals went back on top 2-1 thanks to a two-out error and a run-scoring single by Kim Hanson (Devine/Devine HS).

The score remained 2-1 in favor of the Cardinals until the bottom of the fourth inning when the Belles exploded for five runs.  Darian Dunn gave the Belles a 3-2 lead when she cracked a two-run double.  Then ASU rallied to score three more times after two outs in the inning.  Amanda Wilhelm doubled, Ambra Hill walked and Kacie Easley hit a three-run homer to make it 6-2.

The Cardinals cut the lead in half in the top of the fifth inning on Monica Acuna's (San Antonio/Holmes HS) two-run homer, but that was as close as it would get.

The Cardinals finished the game with eight hits, including two by Victoria Silva (San Antonio/Brandeis HS).  Briana Sanchez (San Antonio/Marshall HS) took the loss in the circle after allowing 11 hits, five earned runs and two walks while striking out four in 6.0 innings.

The Belles had three players with two hits apiece including Easley and Dunn who combined for all five of the team's runs batted in.  Mary Kate McKay earned the win for ASU after tossing 5.0 innings of relief.  She allowed four hits, two runs and no walks while striking out two.

The Belles advance to the LSC semifinals against the winner of West Texas A&M and Abilene Christian at noon on Saturday.


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