Prairie View, Texas – The University of the Incarnate Word baseball team snapped a five-game losing streak with a commanding 17-4 non-conference victory over Prairie View A&M on Tuesday afternoon at Tankersley Field.

HOW IT HAPPENED

After being shutout in their last game, the Cardinals (17-24, 5-13 SLC) exploded for 17 runs on 18 hits, and rode Luke Taggart's strong start on the mound to victory.

After falling behind 1-0 after the first inning, UIW went on to score nine runs in the next two innings. Mark Whitehead's two-RBI triple and David Anaya's two-RBI double highlighted a five-run second inning. Kyler Genenbacher and Kyler Bergeron joined the RBI parade with a single and a double respectively in a four-run third inning.

Taggart settled in nicely after the first inning run, and threw up zeros in five out of his last six innings. In the sixth inning, Whitehead tripled again to drive in another run, and then in the seventh, Bryce Shepherd drove in two runs with a double to left center, and Anthony Ramirez followed with a two-RBI single to make it 17-3 at the time.

Taggart locked up his first win of the season, tossing seven strong innings. He allowed three runs on five hits, walked three and struck out three. Nolan Ellis relieved him and only allowed an unearned run in two innings, giving up one hit and striking out one.

Tyler Laux got tabbed with the loss for the Panthers (16-28, 9-9 SWAC), and moved to 0-6.

LEADERS

Every offensive starter for UIW collected at least one hit. Whitehead led the way with three hits, four RBI, two runs and two triples. Anaya finished with three hits, three runs and two driven in, while Eddy Gonzalez got two hits, three runs, one RBI and a walk. Sam Gutierrez had a great night at the plate as well. He was 3-for-5, with three runs
scored and a walk. Shepherd drove in two runs on two hits, and scored twice.

For the Panthers, Cody Den Beste hit his fourth homerun of the season and finished with three hits, two RBI and a run scored.

UP NEXT

UIW will now turn right back around for another non-conference game, as they host UTRGV tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. at Sullivan Field.

STAY TUNED

The Cardinals will then host New Orleans in a three-game Southland Conference set starting on Friday at 6:30 p.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.