SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – A five-run fifth inning propelled the University of the Incarnate Word baseball team to a 7-5 win over Nicholls in game two of a Southland Conference series Saturday at Sullivan Field.
Eddy Gonzalez's (Laredo/United HS) big night led the way for the Cardinals. He had three hits, including two triples and three RBI's as UIW collected their third win in conference play this year.
Nicholls (13-20, 4-10 SLC) jumped out to the early 2-0 lead after scoring a run in the second and third innings. They threatened to put the game out of reach in the top of the fifth inning when they loaded the bases with one out, but the Cardinals were able to turn a double play to end the inning.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Cardinals (8-23, 3-8 SLC) used small ball to start the rally. After
Christian Divelbiss (Yuba City, CA/Yuba City HS) led off the inning with a single,
Bryce Shepherd (Coldspring/Coldspring-Oakhurst HS) and
Trey Rodriguez (Corpus Christi/Carroll HS) both laid down sacrifice bunts and both actually reached base on an error by the second baseman and a fielder's choice. With the bases loaded,
Braden Martin (Andrews/Andrews HS) doubled down the left field line to score two runs. Gonzalez followed with his first triple of the season to score two more runs and
Austin Hoffman (Goodyear, AZ/Millenium HS) followed with a sacrifice fly to center field for the fifth run of the inning.
The Colonels scored one run in the sixth to cut the lead to 5-3, but then the Cardinals added two more runs in the bottom of the inning. Rodriguez hit a double to left center field to drive in a run and then Gonzalez hit another triple to make it 7-3.
Nicholls scored two more runs in the seventh inning to make it 7-5 and nearly tied it in the top of the ninth with what looked to be a two-run homerun by Trevor Flynn, but Martin caught it at the wall for the out.
Trevor Hardee (Alvord/Alvord HS) got the last two outs of the ninth to collect his second save of the season.
John Shull (San Antonio/Churchill HS) started the game and earned his second win of the season going 6.0 innings, allowing one earned run (two unearned), two walks and striking out one.
Ryan Dubbels (San Antonio/Johnson HS) came in to face two lefties and retired them both with big outs in the eighth and ninth inning.
The loss went to Cole Stapler who allowed four earned runs (one unearned) in 4.2 innings and struck out three batters without a walk.
Martin collected three hits in the win, scored once and drove in two, while Gonzalez finished the game 3-for-4 with three RBI's and a run scored. Both Divelbiss and Rodriguez collected two hits for UIW.
Kyle Knauth and Gavin Wehby collected three knocks each and Webhy added two RBI's. Justin Holt went 2-for-4 with a run scored and a run driven in. The Colonels out-hit the Cardinals 14-12, but left 11 men on base in the loss.
Game three of the series is set for tomorrow at 1 p.m.
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