Box Score SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word baseball team closed out their season in style with a three-game sweep of Southland Conference rival Abilene Christian.  The Cardinals punctuated the series with a 5-3 win over the Wildcats on Saturday afternoon at Sullivan Field.

Prior to the game, the Cardinals (18-32, 9-15) honored their six seniors as part of Senior Day.  All six played a role in the victory.  Jonathan Armijo (San Antonio/Highlands HS), Slade Brown (Keller/Keller HS), Brandon Clark (San Antonio/Madison HS) and Jason Stone (Georgetown/Georgetown HS) were all in the starting lineup and were part of a strong defense that did not commit an error.  Jesus Berduzco (Sacramento, CA/Foothills HS) and Alex Shaffer (Seattle, WA/Nathan Hale HS) each pitched a scoreless inning of relief as well.

The Cardinals never trailed in the game.  They scored in the second inning when Ethan McGill (Penn Valley, CA/Nevada Union HS) came around to score on an error by the Wildcats (17-33, 6-18).  They added two runs in the third inning on a two-run double by Jesse Hoover (Marion/Marion HS).  Each team scored a run in the fifth inning to make it 4-1 Cardinals.

The Wildcats rallied in the seventh inning to pull to within one run.  Catcher Connor Messman came through with a two-out, two-run double to make it 4-3.

The Cardinals manufactured an insurance run in the eighth inning.  McGill doubled with one out and then Aaron Warren (Schertz/Wagner HS) came on to pinch run.  He advanced to third on a ground out and then scored on a wild pitch.

Geno Encina (San Antonio/Brandeis HS) picked up his seventh win of the season for UIW.  He went 7.0 innings allowing six hits, three runs and no walks while striking out six.  Berduzco allowed a hit in a scoreless eighth inning while Shaffer earned his third save of the season.  He struck out the first batter, walked the second and then induced Heath Beasley into a game-ending 6-4-3 double play.

Hoover led the UIW offense with two hits, three RBI's and his 16^th double of the season.  McGill was 1-for-2 with a run and two walks.

Russell Crippen was handed the loss for the Wildcats.  He allowed four hits, two earned runs and two walks while striking out two in 2.1 innings.  Emil Litterer went 2-for-4 with two runs scored to lead the offense.

The Cardinals closed out their first season as a member of NCAA Division I and the Southland Conference on a three-game winning streak and a 9-15 conference record.
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