Box Score ARLINGTON, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word baseball team picked up their first win of the season on Saturday afternoon at UT-Arlington, host of the UTA Tournament, 4-1 at Clay Gould Ballpark.

The Cardinals (1-1) received a strong performance by starting pitcher Geno Encina (San Antonio/Brandeis HS) who combined with Alexis Garza (McAllen/McAllen HS) and Kris Looper (Wharton/Wharton HS) to limit the Mavs (0-2) to a lone unearned run.  Encina went 5.1 innings and allowed five hits, an unearned run and a walk while striking out one.  Garza pitched two scoreless innings of relief and then Looper picked up his first career save by closing out the final 1.2 innings without allowing a run.

The Cardinals got on the board in the top of the second inning.  Jonathan Armijo (San Antonio/Highlands HS) came through with a two-out single to score Slade Brown (Keller/Keller HS).  They added another run in the fifth inning using a pair of hit by pitches, a sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch to make it 2-0.

The Cardinals went up 3-0 in the sixth inning when they put together three consecutive singles all with two outs.  The Mavs made it 3-1 in the bottom half of the inning when they took advantage of a UIW error.

The Cardinals tacked on an insurance run in the eighth inning.  The Mavs loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth with one out, but Looper entered the game and quickly retired the next two batters.  In the ninth, the Mavs put two runners on base, but once again Looper was able to get out of a jam to secure the win.

The Cardinals finished the game with 10 hits.  Brown led the offense with a 3-for-3 performance that included two runs and a double.  Ethan McGill (Penn Valley, CA/Nevada Union HS) slashed a pair of singles and Armijo finished the game with two RBI's.

The Mavs also had 10 hits without an extra-base hit.  They left 12 runners on base.  Zach Thompson was handed the loss after allowing six hits, three runs and a walk in 5.2 innings.  He also struck out six batters.

The Cardinals are back in action on Sunday at 11 a.m. against Stephen F. Austin in their final game at the UTA Tournament.
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