GULFPORT, MISSISSIPPI – The University of the Incarnate Word softball team split a pair of games for the second straight day at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Softball Classic on Saturday.  They defeated Jackson State, 6-3 and then lost to Mississippi Valley State, 5-1.

In the opener, the Cardinals (3-14) got off to a good start when Taylor Johnson (Schertz/Clemens HS) led off the bottom of the first inning with an inside the park home run.  It was the senior's first career homer and gave the team an early 1-0 lead.

The Tigers (4-15) stormed back in the top of the third inning.  Tatyana Givens' two-out triple tied the game and then Gaylan Johnson, A.J. Hervey and Sarah Gore followed with consecutive singles to give the team a 3-1 lead.  The Cardinals responded in the bottom half of the inning with four runs.  UIW had seven batters reach base safely and moved station-to-station to take a 5-3 lead.

The Cardinals were able to add an insurance run in the fifth inning when Katie Helm (New Braunfels/New Braunfels HS) was walked with the bases loaded.  Brooke DuBois (Pearland/Pearland HS) pitched the final 4.1 innings in relief without allowing a run to earn the win.  She did not allow a runner past second base.  She had three strikeouts while giving up three hits and three walks.  Merina Young was handed the loss for the Tigers after giving up four runs in 2.0 innings of work.

In the second game of the day, the Devilettes (2-12) surprised the Cardinals thanks to an excellent pitching performance by Rebekah Clinton.  Clinton stymied UIW by allowing six hits, one run and no walks while striking out two in a complete game victory.  MVSU entered the game with a team earned run average over 10.00

The Devilettes scored in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI single by Ikeyia Alexander.  MVSU exploded for four runs in the fifth inning when they put the first four batters of the inning on base and all four scored. 

The Cardinals only real rally of the game came in the sixth inning when they put together three consecutive singles after the first two outs were recorded.  Kristin Hebert (Humble/Atascocita HS) drove in the team's only run of the game.  She also pitched 2.0 innings in relief allowing one hit and one run.  Mikaela Flores (Lockhart/Lockhart HS) took the loss after allowing seven hits and four runs in 4.0 innings.

The Cardinals will open up Southland Conference play on Friday when they travel to Northwestern State for a 3 p.m. doubleheader.
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