PRAIRIE VIEW, TEXAS – The University of Incarnate Word softball team had an offensive explosion at the plate as they were able to sweep the midweek doubleheader against Prairie View A&M on Wednesday afternoon winning the first game, 12-8 and the second game, 23-11.
           
In the first game of the day against Panthers (3-12), the Cardinals would score early and often.  In the top of the first inning, UIW (10-14) managed to take the early lead after scoring three runs highlighted by a two-run homerun from Alex Alonzo (San Antonio/Smithson Valley HS) followed by a solo homerun by Christy Trevino (San Antonio/Brandeis HS) to give the Cardinals a 3-0 advantage.  In the top of the second inning, UIW would add three more runs after Alonzo hit her second homerun of the game scoring Monique Miller (Hewitt/Midway HS) and Shelbi Swenson (Elgin/Elgin HS) making the score 6-0.
           
The Panthers would battle back with six runs in the bottom of the third inning thanks to Laurisa Hernandez and Peyton Simms who both hit three-run homers in the inning. UIW would continue the scoring in the top of the fourth with a three-run homerun of their own by Bridget Gauvin (Winnipeg, Can./College Louis-Riel), who pinch-hit for Trevino. The Panthers would answer with two runs in the in the fourth after Amanda Ford had a two-run single to make the score 9-8 in favor of UIW.  The Cardinals would finish the scoring in the sixth with three more runs to make the final score 12-8.
           
Bridget Stein (Brenham/Brenham HS) started the game in the pitching circle for UIW and she went 2.2 innings while allowing five earned runs on five hits. Jessica Rodriguez (Conroe/Oak Ridge HS) finished the game in the pitching circle and she went 4.1 innings in relief giving up three earned runs on five hits while striking out four batters. Rodriguez was credited with the win which is her second of the year and Sabrina Johnson was charged with her third loss of the season after going 1.2 innings and allowing three earned runs.
           
The Cardinals collected 10 hits for the game and they also walked a season high 13 times.  Alonzo had the best game at the plate with two homeruns and five RBI to go along with three runs scored and one walk.  Gauvin had the pinch hit three run homer and Miller went 1-for-1 with three runs scored and three walks while also stealing two bases.  For the Panthers, both Hernandez and Simms had three RBI and Ford contributed three hits and two RBI.
           
The Cardinals continued the offensive explosion in the second game of the doubleheader.  They started the first inning with nine runs as Alonzo and Samantha Mendoza (Fresno, CA/Washington Union HS) both had two RBI's in the inning.  The Panthers would also get on the board with three runs in the first.  In the second inning, the Cardinals would add six more runs on RBI's from Alonzo, Victoria Bratcher (Colleyville/Colleyville Heritage HS), Gauvin and Natali Duron (Pasadena/Memorial HS) to make the score 15-3.  UIW would go on to score four more runs in the third, one in the fourth and three in the fifth inning.  The Panthers did score seven runs in the bottom of the fifth, but they were not able bring the scoring deficit within ten to continue the game as the final score was 23-11.
           
Darrianne Hale (Mesquite/Bishop Lynch HS) picked up her first victory of the season after pitching the full five innings although she gave up 11 runs, six earned runs and 12 hits.  The Cardinals had their best game of the season at the plate with 18 hits, three homeruns and eight walks to go along with seven stolen bases.  Alonzo continued her spectacular day by going 3-for-3 with five runs batted in, three runs scored, one walk and one homerun.  Bratcher had two walks and scored two runs while also driving in two. Gauvin went 2-for-3 with two RBI and Duron was 3-for-3 with three RBI. Mendoza scored three runs while also collecting two RBI and Ramirez had four runs scored with two stolen bases.
           
In both games combined, UIW scored 35 runs and collected 28 hits while also registering 21 walks.  Entering the game, the Cardinals had 61 runs scored in the previous 22 games.  Alonzo went 5-for-7 with three homeruns, 10 RBI, six runs scored, and two walks in the doubleheader.

The Cardinals will return to action on Friday as the continue Southland Conference play with a doubleheader against Southeastern Louisiana starting at 2:00 p.m. at Cardinals Field.
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