Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – After losing 8-0 in the first game of a doubleheader, the University of the Incarnate Word softball team bounced back with a nice 3-2 victory over visiting Southland Conference rival McNeese State at Cardinals Field on Saturday.

The Cowgirls (29-11, 12-4) entered the day at the top of the conference standings and looked like a first place team in the opener.  Starting pitcher Jamie Allred tossed a shutout to improve to 18-5 on the season and she had a no-hitter through 3.1 innings.  She allowed four hits and two walks while striking out 11.

McNeese finished with 12 hits in the game including home runs by home runs by Katie Roux and Kim Kennedy.  They had four different players with two hits apiece.
Brooke DuBois (Pearland/Pearland HS) was handed the loss for the Cardinals (16-23, 4-7).  She allowed nine hits and seven runs in 5.1 innings.  Kellen Robles (San Antonio/Smithson Valley HS) led the offense with two hits.

In the second game, the Cardinals pulled out a nice win by taking advantage of an error by the Cowgirls while getting some good pitching from a pair of freshmen.  Kristin Hebert (Humble/Atascocita HS) started the game and limited McNeese State to two runs on eight hits and a walk.  Fellow freshman Mikaela Flores (Lockhart/Lockhart HS) picked up the save by recording the final five outs of the game.

The two teams each scored a run in the first inning and then no one scored until the fifth inning.  In the bottom of the fifth inning the Cardinals loaded the bases with one out.  After a strikeout, Christy Trevino (San Antonio/Brandeis HS) hit a ground ball that was mishandled allowing two runners to score.  The unearned runs would prove to be the difference in the game.

The Cowgirls got a run back in the top of the sixth inning.  Roux led off the inning with a double and scored on a single Taylor Schmidt.  Flores entered the game at that point and retired the final two batters of the sixth inning and then went on to hold McNeese State scoreless in the seventh inning.

Rachel Smith was handed the loss for the Cowgirls allowing five hits, one earned run and four walks while striking out eight in 6.0 innings.  Ashley Modzelewski had two hits and drove in a run.

The Cardinals were led on offense by Robles who had two hits and scored a run.  Alex Zepeda (Sinton/Sinton HS) was 1-for-1 with an RBI, a walk and a hit by pitch.

The two teams are back in action on Sunday for the final game of the series at noon.
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