NATCHITOCHES, LOUISIANA – One day after getting shutout in consecutive games, the University of the Incarnate Word softball team pushed Southland Conference rival Northwestern State to extra innings before losing 5-3 on a walk-off home run in the eighth inning at Lady Demon Diamond.

The Cardinals (3-17, 0-3) trailed 3-2 heading into the top of the sixth inning when they tied the game on a solo home run by Shelbi Swenson with two outs.  The Lady Demons went down in order in both the sixth and seventh innings and the game went to extra frames.

In the eighth inning, the Cardinals went down 1-2-3 in the top half.  In the bottom of the inning, Kellye Kincannon singled to lead off the inning and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt.  Brittney Jones followed with a two-run homer to win the game.  She finished 3-for-4 with three RBI's for the game.

The game opened with the Lady Demons scoring in the bottom of the first inning on a solo home run by Kincannon.  UIW tied the game in the top of the third inning when Taylor Johnson led off with a triple and she scored on Alex Zepeda's (Sinton/Sinton HS) squeeze bunt. 

Northwestern State went back on top in the bottom of the third inning when they scored twice.  However, the Cardinals cut lead in half in the top of the fourth inning.  Katie Helm (New Braunfels/Canyon HS) led off with a single and Danielle Ramirez pinch ran for her.  Swenson singled to send Ramirez to third and then she scored on a ground out.

Kristin Hebert (Humble/Atascocita HS) pitched well for the Cardinals, but took the loss.  She pitched all 7.1 innings allowing 10 hits and five runs while striking out two.  Mikayla Brown picked up the win for Northwestern State with 4.0 innings of relief.  She allowed two hits and one run while striking out six.

The Cardinals are back in action on Tuesday when they travel to Mississippi Valley State for a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.
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