HUNTSVILLE, Texas– The University of the Incarnate Word baseball team ended the 2017 campaign suffering a doubleheader sweep, 10-4 and 3-1 at the hands of Sam Houston State on Friday at Don Sanders Stadium.
HOW IT HAPPENED
In game one, the Cardinals (20-34, 8-20 SLC) benefited from
Ryan Gonzalez' three-hit game, who sat out a big part of the season due to an injury. Despite UIW taking a 2-0 lead early in the second inning, the Bearkats (36-20, 19-11 SLC) recovered and scored eight runs in the fifth and sixth innings.
Mark Whitehead and
David Anaya each hit RBI-singles to give UIW the 2-0 lead. But, the Bearkats responded with a two-RBI triple and two-run homerun in the fifth, and later added four more to take a commanding 9-2 lead. After SHSU scored an insurance run in the eighth, UIW attempted a comeback in the ninth.
Bryce Shepherd drove in two runs with a triple to right center field, but it would fall short as they dropped game one 10-4.
In game two, the Cardinals surprised everyone by starting their closer,
Lance Moszkowicz. The reliever, who has appeared in 27 games this season, which is tied for most on the team, looked terrific in his first start as a Cardinal.
The Bearkats jumped out ahead 2-0 in the first, but both runs came after an error, making them unearned. After the two unearned runs, Moszkowicz settled in and blanked the powerful offense of Sam Houston State for the next five innings.
The Cardinal offense cut the lead in half in the second inning when
Sean Arnold drove in
Lee Thomas with a sacrifice fly to left field, but that would be all the scoring they did. Seth Ballew, who came in relief in just the second inning, shutout UIW for five innings, earning him the win.
The Bearkats scored an insurance run in the eighth inning to secure the three-game sweep of UIW.
LEADERS
In game one,
Ryan Gonzalez collected three hits in his first game back and added two runs, while Shepherd drove in two runs for the Cardinals.
Bernie Martinez got tabbed with the loss, while Hayden Wesneki improved to 9-2 after throwing 6.2 innings and holding UIW to two runs on six hits.
The Bearkat offense was led by Riley McKnight and Andrew Fregia with three hits each. Fregia drove in four, and McKnight scored twice.
In game two, Anaya and Thomas led the offense with two hits and a walk apiece, while Arnold drove in the lone run in the loss.
Moszkowicz picked up the loss despite tossing 6.1 innings without allowing an earned run. He scattered five hits, three walks and struck out four.
For the Bearkats, Bryce Johnson and Taylor Beene each collected two hits and Beene added an RBI. Ballew improved to 6-3 with his win, and Collin Cameron and Nick Mikolajchak each tossed a scoreless innings to close out the game, with the latter one getting his tenth save of the season.
UP NEXT
This marks the end of the 2017 season for UIW. They finished the year with a 20-34 overall record, and 8-20 record in the Southland Conference.
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.
