SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word baseball team dropped the rubber game of a Southland Conference series with Houston Baptist, 12-1 on Sunday at Sullivan Field.

The Huskies (15-12, 6-3) scored two early runs on mistakes by the Cardinals in a game that was very tight until the fifth inning. HBU collected six hits in that frame and scored six runs to put the game out of reach.

Louie Payetta had four RBI's in the win, including a three-run home run in the fifth.  He also scored two runs for the Huskies.  Zach Nehrir and Thomas Clay collected three hits apiece, while Clay added two RBI's.  Payetta, Curtis Jones, Samm Wiggins, Andrew Alvarez and Greg Espinoza all had two hits.  As a team, the Huskies out hit the Cardinals, 17-7.

Jones also started the game on the bump and took the win to improve to 2-3 on the year. He pitched six innings, allowed six hits and one earned run while striking out three. He lowered his ERA to 2.72.

For the Cardinals (10-16, 2-7), Jesse Hoover (Marion/Marion HS) collected the only RBI of the game.  Braden Martin (Andrews/Andrews HS) led the fifth inning with a double to left center and Hoover then brought him in with a single to right field.  Tanner Wall (San Antonio/Johnson HS) had a 2-for-3 day while starting as the Cardinals designated hitter.

UIW left the bases loaded in back-to-back innings in the third and fourth inning, allowing the Huskies to gain the momentum.

Brandon Anderson (Cheyenne, WY/Cheyenne Central HS) was tabbed with the loss as he hurled 4.1 innings, allowed seven hits and three runs (two earned), with no walks and no strikeouts. Six other Cardinal pitchers had an appearance Sunday allowing nine runs to score in 2.2 innings of work as the game ended after seven innings.

Freshman Regis Gosda (Sugar Land/Strake Jesuit College prep HS) pitched a scoreless seventh inning, retiring the side in order for the first time all game.

The Cardinals now have a nine-game road trip starting Tuesday at UT-Pan American at 2:00 p.m. They will continue conference play next weekend as they travel to Nicholls for a three game series starting Friday at 6:00 p.m.
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