LAS CRUCES, NEW MEXICO – The University of the Incarnate Word baseball team won the rubber match of a three-game series at New Mexico State on Sunday, 15-13 at Presley Askew Field.

The game featured five lead changes and lasted 4:10.  The Cardinals (6-7) pounded out 15 hits and drew a school record 13 walks in the game.  Every player in the starting lineup either had a hit or scored a run.

The Cardinals got on the scoreboard first with a run in the second inning, but trailed 2-1 heading into the top of the fourth.  UIW scored four times in the inning when Austin Hoffman cleared the bases with a double and then Ethan McGill (Penn Valley, CA/Nevada Union HS) followed with another run-scoring double. 

The Aggies (1-10) responded with six runs in the bottom half of the inning.  The first five batters of the inning reached base safely and then Derek Umphres capped off the inning with a two-run homer.

In the fifth inning, the Cardinals scored twice.  Colton Besett cracked a solo home run to start the inning and then Matt Morris tripled home Mark Whitehead (San Antonio/Johnson HS).  In the bottom half of the inning, the Aggies scored three times with two outs.  Michael Paulson doubled home two runs and then Quinnton Mack drove in his third run of the game to make it 11-7 in favor of the home team.

The Cardinals took the lead for good in the sixth inning.  After one out, the team drew four consecutive walks followed by a two-run single and a wild pitch to tie the score.  Whitehead doubled home a run and later scored on a wild pitch to close out the scoring in the inning.

UIW scored one more time in the seventh inning before the Aggies made it a one-run game by scoring twice in the bottom of the seventh inning.  Besett hit his second home run of the game and third of the season in the top of the ninth inning to give the Cardinals an insurance run.  Cody Richey retired the final six batters of the game for UIW to close out the game and earn the save.

Relief pitcher Adam Hunter earned the win for the Cardinals in 1.2 innings of work.  Whitehead and Besett each scored three times while Hoffman and Trey Rodriguez each drove in three runs.

The Aggies pounded out 13 hits, including seven for extra bases.  Mack finished the game 3-for-5 with a double, triple, three stolen bases and three RBI's while Aaron Duron went 2-for-3 with three runs and an RBI.  Matt Moriarty was handed the loss for NMSU.

The Cardinals are back in action on Tuesday at 2 p.m. at home against UT-Pan American.
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