SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word baseball team held a 2-0 lead up to the sixth inning, but they could not hold it as they dropped the rubber game of a three-game series to Northeastern University, 9-3 on Sunday at Sullivan Field.

Brandon Anderson (Cheyenne, WY/Cheyenne Central HS) had a good outing for the Cardinals (1-2), but a throwing error in the sixth inning resulted in two unearned runs and a shift in momentum.  Anderson ended the day with six innings pitched, giving up no earned runs, eight hits and no walks while striking out four.

"He threw strikes, and that's what you need to do," UIW head coach Danny Heep said. "He gave up eight hits, but he made big pitches when he needed to and got himself out of those jams. It's unfortunate about that throw to first, but those things happen. It's early in the season."

Anderson got some help from his defense as well. Jesse Hoover (Marion/Marion HS) made some really nice defensive plays, including a running grab in left field and throwing out a runner at home plate in the first inning to save at least two runs.

The Cardinals got on the board early in the first and third innings, but did not score again until the bottom of the ninth.  Austin Hoffman (Goodyear, AZ/Millenium HS) brought it in the first run of the game in the first inning with an RBI groundout scoring Matt Morris (Scottsdale, AZ/Saguaro), who got on base on a throwing error by the Huskies' shortstop. Morris then came up in the third inning and hit his second home run of the series to give UIW a 2-0 lead.

After that the Cardinals struggled offensively.  They were held to six hits in the game and struck out 11 times and only walked twice.

After tying the game in the sixth inning, the Huskies' (2-1) offense clicked. They added five runs in the seventh and two more in the eight. Josh Treff, Pat Madigan and Mason Koppens all collected three hits each while and Maxwell Burt and Madigan both recorded three RBI's.

Dustin Hunt earned the win for the Huskies, giving up three hits, two runs (one earned) and one walk while striking out five in six innings of work.

The loss went to Tyler Miller (Conroe/Oak Ridge HS) in a tough relief appearance. The Cardinals used six pitchers on the day and gave up 15 hits and two walks while striking out five.

The Cardinals are back in action on Tuesday when they go on the road to play Prairie View A&M.
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