SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word baseball team opened the Irish Alamo Invitational with a 14-1 loss to Notre Dame on Thursday at Wolff Stadium.

The Fighting Irish roughed up the Cardinals' pitching, scoring in every inning except for the fifth inning. Zak Kutsulis led Notre Dame (4-1) with a 4-for-4 night, including four runs, an RBI and a walk. Ryan Lidge collected two hits, two RBI and two runs, while Cavan Biggio got two hits, two runs and an RBI.

Notre Dame pitching held the Cardinals (2-3) to one run despite UIW's nine hits and four walks. Ethan McGill (Penn Valley, CA/Nevada Union HS) had a team-high three hits, Brance Kahle (Colleyville/Gapevine Faith HS) added two hits and scored the only Cardinal run.  Mark Whitehead (San Antonio/Johnson HS) brought Kahle in with an RBI groundout in the third inning.

The Cardinals were forced to use seven pitchers in the loss. Adam Hunter (Yoakum/Yoakum HS) completed his third scoreless appearance of the season in an inning of work while Chris Jones (Hallettsville/Hallettsville HS) pitched 1.1 innings without allowing a hit or a run and striking out two.  Cody Richey (Comfort/Comfort HS) took the loss for UIW.

Michael Hearne earned the win for the Fighting Irish working six innings of one run baseball while scattering six hits and two walks.

As a team, the Cardinals finished with one run on nine hits and committed three errors, while Notre Dame scored 14 runs on 13 hits and committed one error.

The Cardinals are back in action in the Irish Alamo Invitational tomorrow, when they face Northwestern University at 6 p.m. at Wolff Stadium.
####
pr15118smm