ABILENE, TEXAS – After completing their first sweep in the Southland Conference against Houston Baptist University last weekend, the University of Incarnate Word softball team will now hit the road to take on Abilene Christian University in a three game set. The series begins at 5 p.m. on Friday with a doubleheader and concludes on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Poly Wells Field.
           
The Cardinals (14-20, 5-7) enter the series on a three game winning streak and they have a chance this weekend to reach .500 in conference play if they can sweep the series. Last season, UIW went 2-1 against the Wildcats and this will be the 65^th meeting between the two schools.
           
On the season, UIW is averaging 3.5 runs per game and Alex Alonzo (San Antonio/Smithson Valley HS) is leading the team with 24 RBI's and six homeruns. Mikaela Flores (Lockhart/Lockhart HS) has been a key part of the UIW offense since joining the starting lineup and she is batting .373 with a .588 slugging percentage. Danielle Ramirez (San Antonio/Marshall HS) is the team's spark plug and she leads the Cardinals with 15 runs scored and is also batting .361 with eight stolen bases.
           
In the pitching circle, the Cardinals have a team earned run average of 5.11 in 215.0 innings. Bridget Stein (Brenham/Brenham HS) leads the team with a 6-6 record and a 3.91 ERA in 73.1 innings and Sarah Leal (Kyle/Hays HS) will also likely get some pitching duties this weekend as she is 4-6 with a 3.68 ERA in 59.0 innings of work.
           
The Abilene Christian Wildcats enter the weekend on a two game losing streak after going 1-2 against McNeese State last weekend. The Wildcats have a 5-2 home record and they currently sit fourth in the Southland Conference standings.
           
Abilene Christian is hitting .255 as a team and they are averaging 4.4 runs per game. Holly Neese leads the team with a .303 batting average and 24 RBI's. Neese also has 27 hits on the season and she has scored 19 runs. Peyton Hendrick leads the Wildcats with seven homeruns and she is currently batting .302 with 16 RBI's.
           
The Wildcats pitching staff has a team ERA of 3.84 and they are led by Hannah Null and Allison Turner who have combined for 27 of the team 30 starts. Null leads Abilene Christian with a 7-8 record with a 3.51 ERA in 95.2 innings and Turner is 4-9 with a 4.55 ERA in 66.0 innings. Casey-May Huff is the Wildcats main relief pitcher as she has five relief appearances and a 2-0 record in 28 innings.
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