LAS CRUCES, NM – The University of Incarnate Word softball team started the New Mexico State Tournament with two losses to the Aggies (2-0) on Friday afternoon.  They lost the first game 11-1, followed up by an 8-0 defeat in game two.
           
Starting the first game in the circle for the Cardinals (1-3) was Bridget Stein (Brenham/ Brenham) who struggled early.  After coming up empty in the top of the first inning, the Cardinals allowed the Aggies to score nine runs in the bottom of the first inning to take control of the game.  Stein allowed two homeruns in the first inning which accounted for five of the nine runs.

The Cardinals scored their first run of the game in the fourth inning after Natali Duron (Pasadena/Pasadena Memorial HS) flied out to right field which allowed Brigitte Gauvin (Winnipeg, B.C./College Louis-Riel) to score making it a 9-1 ballgame. The Aggies would finish the scoring in the bottom of the fourth after Kelsey Horton hit her second homerun of the day giving the Aggies the 11-1 victory in five innings.
           
Stein took the loss after working 3.1 innings.  Coming on in relief for UIW was Sarah Leal (Kyle/Hays HS) who gave up one hit in 0.2 innings.  At the plate the Cardinals only muster four total hits while striking out five times as a team.   

Leal started the second game for the Cardinals and she gave up three runs in the bottom of the first inning to give New Mexico State the early 3-0 advantage after the Cardinals started the game with a single by Danielle Ramirez (San Antonio/Marshall HS) followed by a strikeout and a double play to end the top of the first inning.
           
The Aggies would strike again in the bottom of the third inning when Corrin Green hit a two run shot off of Leal to give New Mexico State a 5-0 lead.  After coming in for Leal in the bottom of the third with two outs, Kristin Hebert (Humble/Atascocita HS) would finish the game for the Cardinals giving up two earned runs on four hits in 1.1 innings of work.  New Mexico State would finish the scoring in the bottom of the fourth inning scoring three runs to make the final score 8-0.
           
Leading the team at the plate was Ramirez who went 2-for-2 from the leadoff spot. As a team, the Cardinals struggled at the plate only collecting five total hits for the contest.   Leal would receive her first loss on the season after giving up five earned runs in 2.2 innings of work.
           
Kelsey Horton was the star for the Aggies.  She cracked three home runs and drove in eight runs in the double header.  Karysta Donisthorpe picked up the win in the first game while Makayla Adams tossed 4.0 shutout innings to pick up the win in the second game.
           
The Cardinals return to action tomorrow with another doubleheader starting at 1:00 P.M. against UTEP, and concluding with a game against New Mexico State at 5:30 P.M. to finish the tournament.
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