SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word baseball team closes out their season this weekend with a three-game series against Southland Conference rival Abilene Christian University.  They will play Thursday at 6:30 p.m., Friday at 3 p.m. and Saturday at noon at Sullivan Field.

The Cardinals (15-32, 6-15) will try to finish the season strong after losing five straight games heading into the series.  Overall, the team is hitting .246 with a .308 slugging percentage.  Jesse Hoover (Marion/Marion HS) has been the top hitter for UIW with a .317 batting average, 15 doubles, two homers and 33 RBI's.  He has had a 17-game hitting streak this year and has hit over .360 since the start of April.

The UIW pitching staff has a 4.91 team earned run average.  Sophomore Geno Encina (San Antonio/Brandeis HS) has led the team with a 6-7 record and a 2.55 ERA.  He has three complete games and has struck out 56 batters in 88.1 innings of work.  Junior Dylan Boss (Boerne/Boerne HS) will be the Friday starter for the Cardinals and he is 2-5 with a 4.41 ERA and 46 strike outs in 65.1 innings.

The Wildcats (17-30, 6-15) took 2-of-3 from the Cardinals earlier this season in Abilene.  Similar to the Cardinals, they are also completing their first year as a member of NCAA Division I and the Southland Conference.  They are hitting .277 as a team and have three players hitting over .350.  Seth Spivey has been one of the top hitters in the conference with a .362 batting average, 42 runs, 11 doubles, five homers and 33 RBI's. 

ACU's pitching staff has a 5.41 earned run average.  Garrett deMeyere has been the top starter with a 4-7 record and 4.66 ERA.  He has struck out 38 batters in 75.1 innings.  Kevin Sheets has been productive out of the bullpen with a 4-3 record and three saves in 20 appearances.  He has a 2.91 ERA and 42 strike outs in 43.1 innings.
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