Box Score SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – Despite playing through a light rain for most of the game, the University of the Incarnate Word baseball team took the series finale against Hofstra on Saturday at Sullivan Field, 8-3.

"We were a little worried about the weather," said UIW head coach Dan Heep.  "We weren't sure we were going to be able to get the whole game in."

The Cardinals (5-11) fell behind 2-0 in the first inning, but then starting pitcher Jacob Potts (Glendale, AZ/Cochise College) settled down and held the Pride (5-6) scoreless over the next five innings.  Potts went 6.2 innings allowing nine hits, two earned runs and two walks while striking out two in a no-decision.  "He (Potts) seems to have a hard time getting momentum in the first inning, but he did a good job giving us innings," said Heep.

The Cardinals were stymied on offense until the fifth inning against Graham Tebbit.  They loaded the bases with no outs, but then a 1-2-3 double play seemed to kill the rally.  However, freshman Mark Whitehead (San Antonio/Johnson HS) came through with a two-run single to tie the game.  After stealing a base, he came around to score on an infield single by Aaron Warren (Schertz/Texas Southern HS) when the second baseman threw the ball wild.

In the top of the sixth inning, Whitehead came through with a great defensive play to keep UIW in the lead.  David Leiderman hit a two-out single with Brian MacDonald on second base who tried to score, but a perfect throw by Whitehead put him out at home.

The Pride would tie the score in the top of the seventh inning.  Dalton Rouleau reached base via error and then Matt Ford hit a double to tie the game.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Cardinals took over.  They loaded the bases with no outs again and then Warren came through with a two-run double.  A sacrifice fly made it 6-3, but UIW added two more runs when Hofstra walked or hit the next four batters.

Alex Shaffer (Seattle, WA/Everett CC) picked up the win for the Cardinals with a perfect 1.1 innings of relief.  Matthew Decker (Hickory Creek/New Mexico JC) pitched a scoreless ninth inning.  Warren led UIW with a pair of hits and he and Whitehead each had two RBI's.

Hofstra finished the game with 11 hits.  Leiderman had three of his own and Kenny Jackson drove in two runs.  Relief pitcher Chris Harkey was handed the loss.

The Cardinals are back in action on Tuesday at home against Valparaiso at 6:30 p.m.
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