SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – A three-run seventh inning propelled the University of the Incarnate Word baseball team to an 8-2 opening night win over LIU Brooklyn, Friday night at Sullivan Field.

The Cardinals (1-0) fell behind 2-0 right off the bat in the first inning, but would then tie it in the bottom of the second. It all started when Brance Kahle (Colleyville/Grapevine Faith HS) hit a pop-up in the infield that the Blackbirds' first baseman dropped.  Matt Morris (Scottsdale, AZ/Saguaro HS) followed with a triple to drive in Kahle, and later scored on a wild pitch.

After giving up two early runs, freshman pitcher Bernie Martinez (Laredo/United HS) settled in nicely to quiet the visiting team's bats.  He did not allow a run the rest of his outing, which consisted of 3.2 innings, walking three and striking out three in his collegiate debut.

The Cardinals bullpen took care of the rest of the game as they shut down the Blackbirds (0-1) and gave the offense a chance to win it.

That big chance came in the bottom of the seventh when Bryce Shepherd (Coldspring/Coldspring-Oakhurst HS) started the rally with a one out single. Mark Whitehead (San Antonio/Johnson HS) then hit his second double of the night on a line drive to right center field.  With runners on second and third, Ryan Gonzalez (Corpus Christi/Carroll HS) came through with a two-run single to give the Cardinals the lead. Gonzalez would later score on an RBI groundout by Kahle.

UIW added three more runs to their lead in the eighth inning thanks in part to a throwing error by the Blackbirds' pitcher.  Gonzalez contributed again with an RBI single that gave the Cardinals the definitive 8-2 lead.  He finished with two hits and three RBI's in his first game as a Cardinal.

Whitehead collected three hits, including two doubles and scored two runs.  Cory Duran (Lewisville/Lewisville HS) finished the night 2-for-4 in his Cardinal debut as well.
The Cardinals bullpen is what kept them in the game all night long and eventually led them to victory.   Ryan Dubbels (San Antonio/Johnson HS), Cody Richey (Comfort/Comfort HS), Trevor Hardee (Alvord/Alvord HS) and Cody Allen (Bulverde/Smithson Valley HS) all combined to pitch 5.1 scoreless innings.  Hardee earned the win with 2.0 shutout innings of relief in which he struck out five batters while Allen closed the last two innings for his first career save.

For the Blackbirds (0-1), Mike Kreiger got tabbed with the loss after allowing three runs in 1.1 innings of relief.  The starting pitcher, Brian Drapeau took a no decision after giving up three hits, two unearned runs and three walks while striking out five in 5.0 innings..

Game two of this three game series is set for 3:00 p.m. tomorrow at Sullivan Field.  The Cardinals will send freshman Denson Hull (San Antonio/Churchill HS) to the mound while the Blackbirds give the nod to junior Evan Flood.
####
pr16103smm