SAN ANTONIO, TX – The University of the Incarnate Word softball team was unable to pick up their second Southland Conference victory of the season on Saturday afternoon against McNeese at Cardinals Field.
 
Kristin Hebert got the start for the Cardinals (5-26, 1-8) and she struggled early and the Cardinals defense did not help her with an error on the first play of the game, which led to an early run for McNeese. Later in the first, Taylor Yanitor singled down the right field line to score Erika Piancastelli to give the Cowgirls a 2-0 lead.
 
In the third inning, McNeese added another run when Piancastelli homered to left field, and in the fourth inning the Cowgirls got a bases loaded walk to score JaMaiya Miller to take a 4-0 advantage.
 
The big blow came in the top of the fifth inning after Hailey Drew hit a three run blast to left field.
 
The Cardinals put together a rally in the bottom of the sixth inning after Mikaela Flores was hit by a pitch with the bases load scoring Christy Trevino. Later in the inning, UIW scored two more runs on a wild pitch to get within four runs of the Cowgirls.
 
In the top of the seventh, Drew launched her second homerun of the game to add an insurance run and the Cowgirls would go on to win the game 8-3.
 
Rachel Smith pitches a complete game for McNeese picking up her seventh win of the season after only allowing two earned runs on five hits. Hebert is charged with the loss after going 1.1 innings and allowing two earned runs.
 
The Cardinals had five hits as a team and Danielle Ramirez led the team with two hits and a run scored. Drew led the Cowgirls with the two homeruns and four RBI while Piancastelli added a solo homerun and three walks.
 
STAY TUNED
 
The Cardinals return to action next Friday as they travel to Houston to take on Houston Baptist with a three game series.