SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – It took a while, but the University of the Incarnate Word softball team finally nabbed their first Southland Conference victory of the season on Friday.  The Cardinals dropped the first game of a doubleheader to visiting Abilene Christian University, 7-0, but came back with a 7-3 win in the second game at Cardinals Field.

The first game is one the Cardinals (5-29, 1-13) will try to forget.  They committed five errors that led to five unearned runs for the Wildcats (7-25, 3-11).  In addition, the team was only able to manage four hits against a team that has allowed more runs than innings played this year.

ACU scored five times in the top of the second inning.  The Wildcats used three walks, three singles and two UIW errors to take a commanding lead.  They tacked on insurance runs in the fourth and sixth innings.  Every starter in the lineup either scored a run or had a hit.  Emily Seidel tossed a shutout allowing four hits and four walks with three strikeouts.

The Cardinals had runners on base in every inning and even loaded the bases in the fifth, but they were unable to score.  Taylor Johnson (Schertz/Clemens HS) stayed hot at the plate going 3-for-4, but that was the only offense the team could manage.  Brooke DuBois (Pearland/Pearland HS) took the loss in the circle after allowing 10 hits, seven runs, two earned runs and five walks while striking out two in 7.0 innings.

The second game was tied 0-0 heading into the bottom of the fourth inning.  UIW loaded the bases with one out and Katie Helm (New Braunfels/Canyon HS) hit a chopper to the second baseman and her only option was to get the out at first allowing Danielle Ramirez (San Antonio/Marshall HS) to score.

ACU came back with a big fifth inning.  With two outs and two runners on base, pinch hitter Alyson Bishoff hit a two-run double down the left field line.  Peyton Hedrick followed with an RBI single to give the Wildcats a 3-1 lead.

The Cardinals responded in the bottom half of the inning when Alex Alonzo (San Antonio/Smithson Valley HS) drove in Johnson with a two-out single to right field.  In the sixth inning, UIW exploded for five runs as the ACU defense fell apart.  The Cardinals took advantage of two Wildcat errors to score four unearned runs in the inning.

Kristin Hebert (Humble/Atascocita HS) made the 7-3 advantage stick for UIW as she held the Wildcats scoreless in the seventh inning.  Hebert picked up her first win in over a month as she tossed a complete game allowing eight hits, three runs and one walk while striking out four.  She also had a double and scored a run.  Johnson was 2-for-3 with two runs to extend her hitting streak to 12 games while Alonzo was also 2-for-3 with two runs batted in.

Brown led the ACU offense with three hits and a run scored, but they could not overcome their defensive miscues.  Julia Montoya took the loss after allowing six hits, three earned runs and four walks in 5.1 innings.

The two teams will close out their three-game series on Saturday at noon at Cardinals Field.
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