SAN ANTONIO – Lee Thomas hit a walk-off single in the 10^th inning to give the University of the Incarnate Word baseball team a wild 11-10 victory over Central Michigan on Sunday afternoon at Sullivan Field. The win tied the series even at two games apiece.

HOW IT HAPPENED

It was a rollercoaster of emotions at the ballpark, as the Cardinals (5-4) found themselves down 7-2 in the sixth inning but wouldn't give up. Kyle Bergeron started the sixth inning with a solo homerun—his first—and UIW would add two more in the frame to cut the lead down to 7-5.

After the Chippewas (3-4) scored another run in the top of the seventh, the Cardinals responded with a big four-run inning to take their first lead of the game, 9-8. Nico Garza led off the inning with one of his two triples on the afternoon, and Bergeron followed with an RBI groundout for the first run. Kyler Genenbacher then singled, Thomas doubled, and pinch hitter, Eddy Gonzalez came through with a scorching single to second base to drive in a run. Later in the inning, Mark Whitehead was intentionally walked to load the bases with Ryan Gonzalez on the on-deck circle. And Gonzalez made them pay with a double to right field, driving in two more runs to cap the four-run seventh.

Then in the eighth, Central Michigan regained the lead 10-9 with two runs and then kept the Cardinals off the board in the bottom half of the inning. But UIW would eventually catch up with the Chippewas bullpen in the bottom of the ninth. With three outs left in the game and down by a run, the Cardinals made it interesting. Genenbacher led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a throwing error by the shortstop. A hitter later, pinch hitter Ray Swyers doubled down the right field line to bring in the tying run to score. Then with the score tied 10-10 and the bases full of Cardinals, David Anaya hit a hard groundball to third base that would turn into a terrific 5-3 double play to end the threat, and sending the games to extras.

Ramon Salazar retired the Chippewas in order in the top of the tenth—his second scoreless inning—and then the Cardinals won it in the bottom half of the inning.

It all started with a bases-empty, two-out walk for Bergeron. He then stole second, Genenbacher was hit by a pitch, and Thomas followed with a hard line drive over the shortstop on a 1-2 count to win it for UIW.

Salazar took the win—his first of the season—after two scoreless inning and without allowing a hit and striking out two. Cameron Brown got tabbed with the loss after allowing the winning run, on one hit and a walk.

LEADERS

The teams combined for 35 hits, 21 runs and seven errors. R. Gonzalez and Thomas led the Cardinal offense with three hits apiece. R. Gonzalez drove in two runs, scored one, and stole a base, while Thomas had a double, drove in a run and scored twice. At the top of the lineup, Whitehead went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, two walks, and his fifth stolen base of the season.

The top three guys of the lineup for the Chippewas continued their damage of Cardinal pitching, as the combined for seven hits, five runs and five RBI.

Cody Allen came into the game in relief and tossed 3.1 strong innings, allowing only one run on five hits and four strikeouts. Austin Preiss and Jenner Jackson each pitched a third of an inning and didn't allow a hit or a run.

UP NEXT

UIW will play #20 Texas A&M next Wednesday at 6:35 p.m. at Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park in College Station

STAY TUNED

The Cardinals will follow with a three-game set at home against Omaha, starting on Friday at 6:30 p.m.

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