LAFAYETTE, LOUISIANA – The University of the Incarnate Word softball team opened the 2015 season with a solid 3-2 win over Tennessee State on Friday at the Louisiana Classic hosted by University of Louisiana.

The Cardinals (1-0) got a strong pitching performance from sophomore Kristin Hebert (Humble/Atascocita HS).  She had a shutout going through six innings before running into a little bit of trouble in the bottom of the seventh inning, but she was able to work through it to pick up the victory.  She scattered seven hits and no walks while striking out three in the full seven innings.

The Cardinals took no time scoring their first runs of the season.  Monique Miller (Hewitt/Midway HS) reached base via error in the top of the first inning and scored on a sacrifice fly.  Later in the inning, Shelbi Swenson (Elgin/Elgin HS) cracked a solo home run in her first at bat in a UIW uniform. 

UIW tried to break the game open in the fifth inning when they had the first three batters reach base.  After one out, Mikaela Flores (Lockhart/Lockhart HS) brought in a run when she was hit by a pitch.  Tiger (0-1) pitcher Amber Galyon worked her way out of the jam with a strikeout and a ground out to end the inning.

The Tigers scored both of their runs in the bottom of the seventh.  They opened the frame with a single and a double scoring one run.  A pop up followed by a UIW error put the potential tying run on base.  Another single loaded the bags and it became a one-run game after a sacrifice fly by Savannah Womack.  The Cardinals held on to the win when Hebert was able to induce Danica Gleason to ground out.

The Cardinals finished with six hits and eight runners left on base.  Danielle Ramirez (San Antonio/Marshall HS) went 2-for-4 at the plate while Hebert walked twice and drove in a run.

Galyon was tagged with the loss for the Tigers after allowing six hits, three runs and three walks in 7.0 innings.  Two of the runs were unearned and she had one strikeout.

The Cardinals are back in action on Saturday at Lamson Field with a 10 a.m. game against Central Arkansas and a 5:30 p.m. contest with Eastern Illinois.
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