SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – Austin Hoffman (Goodyear, AZ/Millenium HS) hit a walk-off double down the left field line to give the University of the Incarnate Word baseball team the series opener, 5-4 against Southland Conference rival Central Arkansas on Friday night at Sullivan Field.

The Cardinals (16-27, 7-15 SLC) found themselves down 4-3 with three outs left, but four straight hits sealed the come-from-behind win. Aaron Warren (Schertz/Warren HS) led off the ninth inning with his fourth hit of the night. Mark Whitehead (San Antonio/Johnson HS) followed with a bunt single and Matt Morris (Scottsdale, AZ/Saguaro HS) also bunted for a single over the charging third baseman to load up the bases with no outs. Hoffman finished the game as the hero with his double to give UIW their third straight conference win.

The game started as a pitcher's duel with Geno Encina (San Antonio/Brandeis HS) and Connor Gilmore on the mound for their respective teams and they put up zeroes in the first three innings.  The Bears (23-16, 13-9 SLC) scored first in the top of the fourth inning on a sacrifice fly by Brad Dillenberger. UIW responded right away in the bottom of the inning on a Brance Kahle (Colleyville/Grapevine Faith HS) single up the middle that scored Ethan McGill (Penn Valley, CA/Nevada Union HS). McGIll got on base with his team-high 13th double of the season.

The Cardinals then took the lead in the fifth inning.  Warren led off the inning with a double, Whitehead walked and Morris drove in a run with a single.  Then, Hoffman reached on a fielder's choice and drove in the Cardinals third run of the game.

Encina pitched six innings and left the game with the lead, but the bullpen gave up three runs to deny him his third win of the season. He ended up scattering four hits, one run and one walk while striking out four in a no decision.  Trevor Hardee (Alvord/Alvord HS) earned the win for UIW with 1.2 innings of relief, allowing one hit, no runs, no walks and striking out four.

The Bears bullpen also gave up a lead and Bo Stitch was tabbed with the loss and a blown save.

UIW finished the game with five runs on 13 hits and no errors, while Central Arkansas scored four runs on seven hits. Warren led the offense with a four-hit night and two runs, Kahle collected three hits and drove in a run, and Hoffman drove in three runs on one hit.

Wesley Hoover led the Bears offense with a 3-for-3 night and two runs. Dillenberger finished with three RBI's and Tyler Langley collected two hits at the top of the lineup.

Game two of the series is set for Saturday at 3:00 p.m. at Sullivan Field. The probable starting pitchers are Garret Cooper (5-5, 3.88) for UIW and Brandon Hagerla (5-2 3.31) for UCA.
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