Box Score SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – An early pitching duel went Sam Houston State's way as they got the 8-2 win and completed a three-game Southland Conference series sweep against the University of the Incarnate Word baseball team Saturday at Sullivan Field.

Cody Richey (Fair Oaks/Comfort HS) pitched very well through five innings, but ran into trouble in the sixth inning for UIW.  He gave up three runs and left the game with the Cardinals losing 4-0 after six innings.  He ended up with 6.0 innings pitched allowing four earned runs and no walks while striking out three.  He took the loss for the Cardinals.

The big inning for the Bearkats (21-16, 14-4 SLC) came in the sixth inning when they used four hits, including a triple and a double to score three runs and give them a comfortable 4-0 lead.  

The Cardinals (10-27, 3-12 SLC) responded right away in the bottom of the inning.  Eddy Gonzalez (Laredo/United HS) led off the inning with a double down the right field line and UIW then loaded the bases with an Austin Hoffman (Goodyear, AZ/Millenium HS) single and a walk to Cory Duran (Lewisville/Lewisville HS).  Weston Pitts (Highland Village/Flower Mound Marcus HS) came up with two outs and hit a single to left field that scored two runs to cut the lead to 4-2.

The Bearkat bullpen then took care of the rest.  They combined to throw four scoreless innings and allowed their offense to extend the lead.  Riley McKnight collected four hits to lead the team and scored a run, while Jaxxon Grisham and Robie Rojas each drove in two runs.

For the Cardinals, Pitts had the only two RBI's of the game, while Duran went 1-for-2 with a walk. UIW was outhit 17-6 in the game and committed two errors.

The Cardinals will go on the road for another three-game Southland Conference series next weekend at Stephen F. Austin starting on Friday at 6:00 p.m.
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