SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – The University of Incarnate Word softball team opened up Southland Conference play on Saturday and split a doubleheader against the preseason pick to win the league, Northwestern State, losing the first game 8-0, but responding with an 6-5 extra-inning victory in the afternoon game.
           
The story of the first game for the Cardinals (7-13, 1-1) was once again the lack of offense at the plate.  The Cardinals only totaled four hits in the game and they were shutout for the fifth time this season.  Micaela Bouvier, the Lady Demons' (16-6, 1-1) ace, pitched seven strong innings while only giving up the four hits and striking out seven batters. Bouvier picked up her team high ninth win of the season and lowered her earned run average to 2.02 for the season.
           
Sarah Leal (Kyle/Hays HS) made her fourth start of the season for the Cardinals and she went 4.1 innings giving up four earned runs on eight hits. It was not until the fourth inning that the Lady Demons picked up the first run of the game, but the fifth inning was a struggle for Leal who gave up a triple, a double and finally a two-run homerun to Brittney Jones as Northwestern State would go on to score four runs in the inning and take a 5-0 lead.

Bridget Stein (Brenham/Brenham HS) replaced Leal in the fifth and she would go on to finish the ballgame going 2.2 innings giving up four runs, three earned, on four hits. The Lady Demons would add a run in the sixth inning and they finished the scoring with two runs in the top of the seventh inning.
           
Both Natali Duron (Pasadena/Pasadena HS) and Marissa Ruiz (Portland/Gregory-Portland HS) went 2-for-3 at the plate for the Cardinals while three players reach base because of walks.  For the Lady Demons, Jones led the team with three RBI while Kaytie Proctor went 2-for-3 with two RBI.
           
In the second game of the day, Northwestern State would once again strike first in the fourth inning to give the Lady Demons a 1-0 lead. They would add to the lead in the fifth inning with two more runs to make the score 3-0.
           
The Cardinals tied the game in the fifth inning.  Shelbi Swenson (Elgin/Elgin HS) led off with a single and Kellen Robles (San Antonio/Smithson Valley HS) followed with a sacrifice bunt that was misplayed.  NSU tried to get the lead runner and the ball went into the outfield allowing Swenson to score and Robles went to third.  After one out, the Lady Demons tried to get Robles out at home on a ground ball, but the throw was too late.  UIW tied the game on a two-out single by Christy Trevino (San Antonio/Brandeis HS).
           
UIW took the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning.  Swenson hit a one-out triple and scored on Robles' ground ball to shortstop and Robles was safe when the throw pulled the first baseman off the bag.  Robles later scored on a single by Bratcher.
           
The Demons tied the game in the seventh inning.  The first three batters reached base and forced UIW to go to Leal for the second time in the doubleheader.  She gave up a game-tying single to the first batter.  She induced three of the next four batters to pop out to maintain the tie.
           
The Cardinals did not score in the seventh, but Leal retired the side in the eighth.  In the bottom of the inning, the first two batters made outs, but then Duron and Bratcher hit back-to-back singles.  Alex Alonzo (San Antonio/Smithson Valley HS) sent the crowd home happy with a single to win the game.
           
Kristen Hebert (Humble/Atascocita HS) started the contest for UIW and she went 4.1 innings allowing three earned runs on six hits.  After Stein pitched 1.2 innings for the Cardinals, Leal would enter the game and pitch the final two innings only giving up one hit and earning her third win of the season after picking up her third loss in the first game. For the Lady Demons, Shelby Sells pitched the full 7.2 innings giving up six runs, only two earned, on ten hits while striking out eight batters.
           
Bratcher led the Cardinals offense with three hits, two RBI and a run scored. Swenson also had a good showing in the second game going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a triple.  Trevino and Robles each picked up an RBI and Alonzo was the hero with the game winning hit. Jordan Rains lead the Lady Demons at the plate with three hits and three RBI.  
           
The series wraps up tomorrow with a single game starting at 2:00 p.m. at Cardinals Field as UIW goes for the series win against Northwestern State.
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