SAN ANTONIO– A suicide squeeze in the top of the seventh scored two runs to give UTRGV the lead, and they would eventually hand the University of the Incarnate Word baseball team a 6-4 non-conference defeat Wednesday evening at Sullivan Field.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Cardinals (17-25) grabbed an early lead in the first inning on an infield single by Kyle Bergeron, and a sacrifice fly by Lee Thomas to make it 2-0. UIW's starter Austin Preiss threw up zeros in the first two innings, but the Vaqueros (22-22) got to him in the third inning.

Austin Siener brought in two runs with a single, tying the game at two runs apiece. Then they took a 3-2 lead in the fourth, but it wouldn't last long as Bryce Shepherd drove in the tying run in the bottom half of the inning on a groundball in the infield that went down as a fielder's choice RBI.

The score remained tied until the seventh inning, but the perfectly executed suicide squeeze scored the run from third, and the runner from second came all the way around to score on the throw to first.

UIW answered with one run that half inning on a fielding error by the Vaqueros' first baseman. But that wouldn't be enough, as UTRGV added an insurance run in the ninth to seal the deal.

Garrett Terrell cut down two runners at the plate attempting to score a run while tagging form third on a fly ball to right field. He gunned down the would-be go-ahead run in the third inning, and in the sixth inning. Both were double plays.  

Tyler Miller, who came in to pitch in relief, got tabbed with the loss, while UTRGV's George Lamb picked up the win and Connor Grant secured the win with his second save of the season.

LEADERS

Bergeron led the offense with two hits, and added a run and an RBI. Thomas was 1-for-2 with a run scored, an RBI and two walks. Mark Whitehead stole two bases, giving 17 for the season. On the pitching side, Ramon Salazar had a strong outing, keeping the Vaqueros scoreless for two innings, and only allowing one hit. Lance Moszkowicz allowed one earned in two innings, but struck out four of the six outs he collected.

For UTRGV, Siener and Joseph Callazos each drove in two runs, while leadoff hitter Conrad Mcmahon scored three times and collected three hits.

UP NEXT

The Cardinals will not host New Orleans in a three-game Southland Conference series on Friday at 6:30 p.m., Saturday at 3 p.m., and Sunday at 1 p.m., all at Sullivan Field.

STAY TUNED

UIW will then go to Natchitoches, La. To face Northwestern State in a conference set May 5-7.

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