Box Score SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word battled with Notre Dame on Saturday in college baseball action, but came up on the wrong side of an 8-2 decision at Nelson Wolff Stadium.

The Cardinals (1-5) got off to a poor start against Irish (3-3) by committed two errors in the first inning and fell behind, 3-0.  UIW starting pitcher Alexis Garza (McAllen/McAllen HS) settled down after that retiring 10 of 11 batters at one point.  He went 5.0 innings overall giving up six hits, two earned runs and two walks while striking out five despite taking the loss.

"We knew it would be like this," said UIW head coach Dan Heep.  "They have good teams and good pitching staffs.  This was their (Notre Dame's) #1 pitcher."

Notre Dame starting pitcher Sean Fitzgerald did not give up a hit until the fourth inning when Slade Brown pushed a single through the right side of the infield.  He would hamstring the Cardinals all night long giving up just four hits and no walks while striking out seven in 7.2 innings. 

"We knew we were going to struggle scoring runs and with depth in the bullpen," added Heep.  "We have some freshmen playing now that are getting their feet wet and we will start learning how to use our bullpen and our new guys.  It's a process." 

The Cardinals scored a pair of runs off Fitzgerald in the sixth inning.  An error, a single and a sacrifice bunt set up Jesse Hoover (Marion/Marion HS) who hit a double in the left-center field gap scoring two runs.

The Irish scored an unearned run in the sixth and then put the game away with a three-run seventh inning capped by Mac Hudgins' pinch-hit RBI double.

Notre Dame finished with 12 hits on the night.  Robert Youngdahl led the attack going 3-for-5 with two runs and three RBI's.  Zak Kutsulis and Cavan Biggio each had a pair of hits in the game.

In addition to Garza, UIW relief pitchers Kris Looper (Wharton/Wharton HS) and Alex Shaffer (Seattle, WA/Nathan Hale HS) each tossed a shutout inning of relief.

The Cardinals close out the Irish Spring Classic on Sunday with a game against Gonzaga at 11:30 a.m. at Trinity University.
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