SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – John Shull (San Antonio/Churchill HS) pitched seven scoreless innings in relief and struck out a career-high 12 batters, but the University of the Incarnate Word baseball team could not overcome a two-run first inning by Texas Southern and dropped the first game of the Irish Alamo Classic, 3-1 on Thursday night at Wolff Stadium.

UIW head coach Danny Heep had to go to his bullpen early in the game. Shull came in to relieve starter Cody Richey (Fair Oaks/Comfort HS) with no outs and the bases loaded in the first inning.  Two runs scored, one unearned, and the Tigers never looked back.  Shull just missed the school record strikeouts in a game which is 13.  Kirk Jewasko set the record on May 13, 2010 against Emporia State.

The Tigers' (2-3) Larry Romero kept the Cardinals (2-2) in check. He pitched eight innings, allowed seven hits, one run (unearned), walked two and struck out three. The lone run he allowed came in the eighth inning when Brance Kahle (Colleyville/Grapevine Faith HS) drove in Ryan Gonzalez (Corpus Christi/Carroll HS) with a single up the middle. Gonzalez reached base on an error by the shortstop to start the inning, which made him unearned.

The Cardinals had many opportunities, but hit a few hard balls right at guys all night. They left nine runners on base, which came back to haunt them. Kahle was the only Cardinal with two hits.  He also walked and drove in a run.  Eddy Gonzalez (Laredo/United HS) finished the night 1-for-3 and a walk.

For the Tigers, leadoff hitter Ryan Lazo, led the way with three hits, while also scoring a run. Joel Rosario-Alicea collected two hits and an RBI.

Richey faced four batters and takes the loss for tonight's ballgame. Trevor Hardee (Alvord/Alvord HS) pitched the last two innings and allowed one run, two hits and struck out four.

Romero gets the win for the Tigers, while Robert Pearson closed it out for a save. He retired all three hitters he faced to end the game.

The Cardinals are back in action tomorrow in the Alamo Irish Classic against Bradley University at UIW's Sullivan Field at 4:00 p.m. Bernie Martinez (Laredo/United HS) will be on the mound and will most likely face right hander Matt Dennis.
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