GULFPORT, MISSISSIPPI – The University of Incarnate Word softball team had their four game winning streak snapped on Saturday at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Classic after the team lost 2-0 against Mississippi Valley State in the afternoon game followed by a 6-0 loss against Mississippi State in the evening game.
In the first game of the day against Mississippi Valley State (2-11), the Cardinals were unable to break through at the plate while the Devilettes were able score two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to secure the victory.
Jessica Rodriguez (Conroe/Oak Ridge HS) made her third start of the season for the Cardinals and she pitched well, but the lack of run support doomed her chances of earning the victory. She pitched 5.1 innings and gave up two earned runs on five hits while striking out three batters.
Bridget Stein (Brenham/Brenham HS) came on in relief for UIW getting the final two outs of the sixth inning after Rodriguez gave up the two runs.
The Cardinals (5-10) only tallied five hits as a team and no player had multiple hits. UIW left 10 runners on base for the game and the team also registered three walks and only two strikeouts.
Mississippi Valley State had six hits for the contest. Ikeyia Alexander and Jordan Brown each drove in a run for the Devilettes. Rebekah Clinton picked up the victory for Mississippi Valley State after going the full seven innings and allowing no runs on five hits.
In the nightcap against the Mississippi State Bulldogs (11-1), the Cardinals once again struggled at the plate as they were unable to figure out the freshman starting pitcher Cori Cooper who did not allow a run and only gave up three hits. Cooper went the full seven innings and had nine strikeouts for the game as she picked up her second win of the season.
The Bulldogs scored the first run in the bottom of the first inning on a double by Caroline Seitz to right center field making the score 1-0. In the bottom of the third inning, Mississippi State added four more runs highlighted by a two-run single by Sarai Niu to center field giving the Bulldogs a 5-0 lead. The Bulldogs scored the final run of the ballgame in the fifth inning after an RBI double by Olivia Golden, making the final score 6-0.
For UIW at the plate,
Alex Alonzo (San Antonio/Smithson Valley) had two of the team's three hits and
Danielle Ramirez (San Antonio, TX/ Marshall) had the other hit for the Cardinals.
Sarah Leal (Kyle, TX/ Hays) made her second start of the season in the pitching circle for UIW and she went the full six innings giving up six earned runs on 11 hits. Leal was credited with the loss, her second of the season.
The Cardinals have one more game left to play in the Mississippi Gulf Coast Classic and that will take place on Sunday at 10 a.m. against Southern Mississippi.
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