HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS – The University of the Incarnate Word softball team suffered a pair of run-rule losses on Friday afternoon at Southland Conference rival Sam Houston State University, 9-1 and 8-0.

In the first game, the Bearkats (18-30, 10-13) scored single runs in the first and second innings.  The Cardinals (17-31, 6-17) cut the lead in half in the fourth inning when Shelbi Swenson (Elgin/Elgin HS) drove in Natali Duron (Pasadena/Memorial HS) with a single.

Sam Houston put the game away in the bottom of the fourth inning when they put five across the plate and then they finished it off in the fifth with two more runs.  Overall, they pounded out 11 hits, including a pair of home runs.  Breanna Homer went 2-for-2 with three RBI's and a homer while Jennie Kieval had a homer and drove in four.  Codi Carpenter led the team with three hits.  Lindsey McLeod pitched a complete game allowing four hits, one run and no walks while striking out six.

Sarah Leal (Kyle/Hays HS) was handed the loss for UIW after allowing 10 hits, seven earned runs and two walks while striking out four in 4.0 innings.  Danielle Ramirez (San Antonio/Marshall HS) had a pair of singles and two stolen bases.

In the second game, Jordan Franks shut out the Cardinals in another 5-inning win.  She scattered five hits and no walks to improve to 2-5 on the season.  The Bearkats exploded for five runs in the bottom of the first inning and never looked back.  The closed out the game with three runs in the fifth.

The Bearkats had four doubles and a triple in the game.  Tiffany Castillo had a triple and drove in three runs while Carpenter was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate.
Jessica Rodriguez (Conroe/Oak Ridge HS) was tagged with the loss.  She allowed 10 hits, four earned runs and two walks while striking out one in 4.1 innings.  Mikaela Flores (Lockhart/Lockhart HS) had a double and two hits for the Cardinals.

The series concludes on Saturday with a single game scheduled for 3 p.m.
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