SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word baseball team will play a three-game series with Southland Conference rival New Orleans starting on Friday at 6:30 p.m. at Sullivan Field.

The Cardinals (7-19, 1-2) are seeking their first series win of the season.  This is their first home SLC series.  The team is hitting .244 and has a 5.71 earned run average.  Slade Brown (Keller/Keller HS) leads the offense with a .330 batting average, five doubles and 15 RBI's.  Mark Whitehead (San Antonio/Johnson HS) contributes a .300 average with a team high 21 runs scored. 

The pitching staff is led by sophomore Geno Encina (San Antonio/Brandeis HS).  He is 3-4 with a 3.43 ERA and a 4-to-1 strikeout to walk ratio in 42.0 innings of work.  Kris Looper (Wharton/Wharton HS) and Alex Shaffer (Seattle/Nathan Hale HS) give the team two strong arms out of the bullpen.

The Privateers (8-18, 1-8) are currently last in the SLC.  They are hitting only .246 as a team, but have a solid pitching staff that has a 4.05 ERA.  Samuel Capielano is hitting .382 with 15 runs scored while Hezekiah Randolph has a .304 batting average, three home runs and 20 RBI's.  Hunter Medine is the top pitcher for UNO with a 3-0 record and a 0.77 ERA in 23.1 innings.

Following Friday's game, the teams will play a game on Saturday at 3 p.m. and on Sunday at 1 p.m.
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