SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – Colton Besett's (Cedar Park/Vista Ridge HS) 3-run home run in the bottom of the fourth proved to be enough for Geno Encina (San Antonio/Brandeis HS) and the University of the Incarnate Word baseball team to take the series opener against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 6-1 Friday at Sullivan Field.

Encina earned his third win of the season with eight strong innings of work against the Islanders (21-24, 11-14 SLC). He allowed four hits, one earned run and one walk while striking out five. The lone run came in the top of the seventh when pinch hitter Dom Lopez hit a double to right center field that scored Kyle Danford. Other than that, Encina seemed to be under control the entire game.

Besett gave the Cardinals a 3-0 lead in the fourth with his team-leading fifth home run of the season on a first pitch fastball from Trevor Belicek.  Belicek pitched six innings for the Islanders and surrendered three runs on three hits, five walks and five strikeouts to take his fourth loss of the season.

The Cardinals (19-27, 10-15 SLC) tallied three insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth thanks to a bases-loaded single from Aaron Warren (Schertz/Wagner HS) that plated two and a bloop single from Matt Morris (Scottsdale, AZ/Saguaro HS) that gave UIW the 6-1 lead.

Trevor Hardee (Alvord/Alvord HS) came in to pitch a scoreless ninth for the Cardinals in a non-save situation and retired the side allowing only one hit and striking out one.

Blake Woosley (Corvallis,OR/Philomath HS) had a very productive night at the plate. He finished 1-for-1 with a run scored and three walks. Brance Kahle (Colleyville/Grapevine Faith HS) scored two runs and walked three times as well. The Cardinals out-hit the Islanders 6-5 on the night and they both committed one error apiece.

In an effort to get the series in before inclement weather hits the teams have scheduled to play a doubleheader at noon on Saturday.
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