SAN ANTONIO– The University of the Incarnate Word baseball team will look to snap a five-game losing streak as it hosts Stephen F. Austin for three Southland Conference games this weekend at Sullivan Field.
In an attempt to avoid inclement weather, game times for the series have changed. The team's will play a Friday doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m., while the time and day of the series finale is yet to be determined.
FIRST PITCH
The Cardinals (13-13, 4-5 SLC) started Southland Conference play with two series wins for the first time since their transition to Division I. But a series sweep at Lamar and losses at Texas A&M Corpus Christi and at No. 11 Houston has given them five losses in a row.
SCOUTING THE LUMBERJACKS
Record: 14-13, 3-3 SLC
Last Game: W 8-3 vs. Mississippi Valley State
Head Coach: Johnny Cardenas
Leaders:
#10 Zac Michener, .326 BA, 30 H, 20 R, 7 2B, 3 HR, 21 RBI, 12 BB
#8 Tyler Kendrick, .279 BA, 29 H, 21 R, 3 2B, 12 RBI, 10 BB, 8 SB
#5 Conner Fikes, .277 BA, 28 H, 15 R, 6 2B, 13 RBI, 4 SB
#1 Nick Ramos, .245 BA, 24 H, 12 R, 4 2B, 20 RBI, 11 BB
Probables:
#35 RHP Trevor Kiminski, 1-1, 4.11 ERA, 19 BB, 27 K
#12 LHP Patrick Ledet, 2-2, 6.03 ERA, 11 BB, 26 K
#9 RHP Tony Grabowske, 2-2, 2.96 ERA, 13 BB, 25 K
Summary
The Lumberjacks enter the weekend series on a 6-game winning streak. All six wins were at home, and this will be their first away games since March 19. Their two conference series have ended in sweeps; they lost all three at McNeese, and then beat Abilene Christian three times to get to .500. They are hitting .253 as a team, and their pitching staff has a 4.59 ERA
THE CARDINAL FILE
Record: 13-13, 4-5 SLC
Last Game: L 8-1 at No. 11 Houston
Head Coach: Danny Heep
Leaders:
#16
Kyler Genenbacher, .386 BA, 27 H, 14 R, 3 2B, 7 RBI, 9 BB
#21
Eddy Gonzalez, .337 BA, 28 H, 19 R, 8 2B, 12 RBI, 11 BB
#4
Bryce Shepherd, .323, 20 H, 10 R, 4 2B, 10 RBI
#11
Mark Whitehead, .311, 32 H, 26 R, 12 RBI, 11 BB, 11 SB
Probables:
#38
Luke Taggart, 1-2, 6.64 ERA, 10 BB, 15 K
#23
Bernie Martinez, 3-0, 1.17 ERA, 12 BB, 27 K
#36
John Shull, 2-3 5.28 ERA, 7 BB, 15 K
Summary:
The Cardinal offense is hitting .273 on the year and averaging 6.0 runs per game.
Kyler Genenbacher is ranked seventh in the conference with his .386 batting average.The pitching staff has a 6.34 ERA and opponents are hitting .318 against them.
Luke Taggart will make his fourth start of the year, and first in the Southland Conference.
Bernie Martinez' 1.17 ERA is the lowest in the conference.
SERIES HISTORY
The Cardinals hold the upper hand in the series history 6-4. Last season, UIW visited the Lumberjacks and lost the first two games before taking game three, 14-4.
UP NEXT
The Cardinals will play a mid-week non-conference game at home against Texas Southern on Tuesday at 3 p.m. at Sullivan Field.
STAY TUNED
UIW will then go on the road to face Utah Valley in a non-conference three game series in Orem, Utah. Games are slated for Friday and Saturday at 6 p.m., and Sunday at 11 a.m.
For the most up-to-date information on UIW Athletics visit uiwcardinals.com. Be sure to follow UIW Athletics on Twitter @UIWAthletics and like UIW Athletics on Facebook at UIW Athletics.
