Box Score SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word baseball team lost their first game at the Irish Spring Baseball Classic at Wolff Stadium on Thursday afternoon, 6-1 to Gonzaga University.

The Cardinals (1-3) scored the first run of the game in the top of the first inning, but the Bulldogs (2-3) scored the remaining six runs of the game.  "We didn't get off to a good start," said UIW head coach Dan Heep. "We can't fall behind a team early on that has a strong pitching staff like Gonzaga's."

The Cardinals pushed their run across the plate in the first inning when Mark Whitehead (San Antonio/Johnson HS) led off with a walk, stole second and then came around on a double by Jesse Hoover (Marion/Marion HS).

The Bulldogs responded by scoring two runs in the bottom of the first half.  They were able to take advantage of three walks and a hit by pitch to score twice despite only getting a lone single.  They played small ball in the second inning to score a run by using a sacrifice bunt and a slow grounder to make it 3-1.

Gonzaga added two more runs in the fifth and another in the sixth inning.  In each case, the Bulldogs used a sacrifice bunt to help set up the scoring.

"We have to play it close to the vest against a good pitching team like Gonzaga," said Heep, "and we just did not get enough good at bats."

The Cardinals had a chance to get back into the game in the top of the sixth inning.  They were able to load the bases with two outs and Jonathan Armijo's (San Anotnio/Highlands HS) fly ball down the right field line appeared like it would land fair and bring in all three runners.  Unfortunately, the ball landed just foul and Karl Myers was able to strike out Armijo on a nice curve ball.

In the eighth inning, it looked like the Cardinals were going to put at least a run on the board when Colton Besett (Cedar Park/Vista Ridge HS) hit a deep fly over the left fielder's head.  The ball hit the warning track and then bounced over the fence for a ground-rule double and preventing Ethan McGill (Penn Valley, CA/Nevada Union HS) from trying to score from first base.

Taylor Jones picked up the win for the Bulldogs.  He allowed four hits, one run and three walks while striking out two in 5.1 innings.  Myers notched a save after tossing 3.2 shutout inning of relief.  Sam Brown led the team with three hits while Payden Lamb was credited with two RBI's.

Dylan Boss (Boerne/Champion HS) was handed the loss after allowing three runs and four walks in 1.0+ innings of work.  Cole Hybner (Shiner/St. Paul HS) and Cody Richey (Comfort/Comfort HS) he tossed a perfect inning of relief.  McGill had two hits for the team.

The Cardinals are back in action on Friday at 4 p.m. against Santa Clara at Wolff Stadium.
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