SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word baseball team opens their Southland Conference schedule with a three-game series against Southeastern Louisiana starting Friday at 6:30 p.m.  Due to rainy conditions at Sullivan Field, the Cardinals will play this weekend's games at St. Mary's University's Dickson Stadium. They will close out the series with a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 1 p.m.

Junior shortstop Matt Morris (Scottsdale, AZ/Saguaro HS) has been a big part of the Cardinals (6-7) offense this season.  He leads the team in hits (16), batting average (.340), on-base percentage (.483) and walks (11).  He has scored 10 runs, hit four doubles, a triple, two home runs and has 10 RBI.  Leadoff hitter, Mark Whitehead (San Antonio/Johnson HS) leads the team in runs scored (11) and stolen bases (4), while Austin Hoffman (Goodyear, AZ/Millenium HS) leads in RBI (14).  Will Triebes (Pflugerville/Hendrickson HS) is hitting .321 with four runs scored and four RBI.

Garret Cooper (Round Rock/McNeil HS) has been great for the Cardinals pitching staff.  He is 3-0 in three starts and has a 1.86 ERA in 20 innings of work with 13 strike outs and seven walks. Adam Hunter (Yoakum/Yoakum HS) has appeared in seven games out of the bullpen this season and he has a 3.52 ERA with five strikeouts and one walk.

Southeastern Louisiana (8-4) swept Northwestern State at home last weekend with 10-5, 6-4 and 4-3 wins against the Wildcats.  The Lions are 6-1 at home but have not been so successful away from home.  They are 1-2 in away games and 1-1 at neutral sites.  Brett Hoffman and Kevin Carr are both hitting over .400 to lead the team. Hoffman is hitting .412 and Carr is hitting .405. Ryan Byers is leading the team in hits (16), stolen bases (6) and RBI (12).  The Lions have six guys hitting over .300 with at least 30 at-bats in the season.  Daniel Midyett has two of the team's three homeruns and Carr has four of the team's 11 doubles.  As a team, they are hitting .296 while scoring 6.8 runs per game.

Jake Johnson leads the pitching staff with a 2-0 record and a 1.35 ERA in 20 innings of work.  He has struck out 14 and walked seven.  Mac Sceroler and Kade Granier also each have a 2-0 record, but both have come out of the bullpen this year and have worked eight innings apiece.  Sceroler's ERA is at 2.25 and Granier's is at 3.38.  Kyle Cedotal has started three games for the Lions and has a 1-1 record and 1.96 ERA in 18.1 innings.  The pitching staff has a 4.46 combined ERA, while striking out 70 and walking 45.
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