STILLWATER, OKLAHOMA – A four-run fourth inning was too much to overcome for the University of the Incarnate Word baseball team, as they dropped the first of two games at #25 Oklahoma State, 7-1 Tuesday night.

Austin Preiss (La Vernia/La Vernia HS) started on the mound for the Cardinals (3-5) and loaded the bases in the first inning, but escaped the jam with only one run on a sac fly by Dustin Williams.   After another Cowboys' (3-5) run in the second, the Cardinals cut the lead in half in the third inning.

Ryan Gonzalez (Corpus Christi/Carroll HS) worked a one-out walk and later advanced to second on an Eddy Gonzalez (Laredo/United HS) single.  Austin Hoffman then loaded the bases with a single and a Brance Kahle (Colleyville/Grapevine Faith HS) RBI groundout to second scored Gonzalez to make it 2-1.

The Cowboys responded with another run in the bottom of the inning and then with four more in the fourth inning, thanks in part to two doubles and two singles that made the score, 7-1. One of the fourth inning runs was unearned.

Ryan Dubbels (San Antonio/Johnson HS) came in to pitch in the fifth inning and shut down the Cowboys offense for two innings.  He gave up one hit and struck out two batters. After these two innings of work, he has yet to give up a run in 4.2 innings of work in three appearances.  Jake Bedevian (Houston/Second Baptist School) and Bernie Martinez (Laredo/United HS) finished the game with one scoreless inning and one strikeout each. The loss goes to Preiss, his first, and the win was picked up by Carson Teel who pitched the sixth and seventh innings without allowing a run or a hit and struck out two Cardinals.

Austin Hoffman (Goodyear, AZ/Millenium HS) was the only Cardinal with a multi-hit game, finishing 2-for-4. Ryan Gonzalez was 0-for-2, but walked twice and scored the only run for UIW.  Eddy Gonzalez and Tanner Wall were the only other Cardinals with hits, as they were held to four hits.

These two teams will play again tomorrow at 4:00 p.m. at Reynolds Stadium. John Shull (San Antonio/Churchill HS) will get the start for the Cardinals.
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