NATCHITOCHES, La. – The University of the Incarnate Word baseball team took a 7-4 lead into the bottom of the ninth, but Northwestern State walked off on a grand slam, taking a 10-7 victory in game two on Saturday afternoon at Brown-Stroud Field.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Cardinals (19-28, 7-16 SLC) opened the scoring in the second inning when they executed a double steal to perfection.
Garrett Terrell stole second and
Kyle Bergeron came home to score the first run for UIW. The Demons (17-28, 7-16 SLC) evened it up at 1-1 with an unearned in the bottom half of the second.
The big inning for the Cardinals came in the top of the fourth, scoring four runs. After
Lee Thomas led the inning off with a double,
Kyler Genenbacher drove him in with a double of his own. Sam Gutierrez then drove in Genenbacher with a single to right field to make it 3-1. Then with two on base,
Mark Whitehead came through with a two-RBI single, and later scored on a wild pitch to make it 6-1 in favor of UIW. The demons cut the lead to 6-3 with two runs in the next half inning, but a Terrell solo homer in the sixth gave the Cardinals a 7-3 lead.
The Demons scored one more run in the sixth, but were trailing 7-4 with two outs left in the ninth inning. But, that's when it all started.
Cody Allen loaded the bases and Tyler Smith then doubled in two runs to make it 7-6. Then with runners on second and third, the Cardinals brought in their closer
Lance Moszkowicz to intentionally walk his first batter to load the bases and set up a double play. Moszkowicz struck out the next batter for the second out, but with two outs and a 2-0 count, Caleb Ricca connected with a homerun to left field for the walk-off grand slam.
LEADERS
Bernie Martinez tossed six innings, scattering eight hits, three runs (one unearned), and struck out five, but got a no decision.
Cody Allen picked up the loss, while
Tyler Miller tossed two scoreless innings and striking out four.
Offensively, Thomas was the only Cardinal with two hits. He added a run scored and a double in the loss. Whitehead had a hit, two RBI, a run scored and two walks, and Terrell finished 1-for-3 with his second homerun of the season.
For the Demons, Ricca led the way with a six-RBI game. He had two hits, the grand slam and scored a run. Smith and Hunter Uzzle each had two RBI, while Matthew Alford collected three hits and scored a run.
Devin Bear picked up the win, pitching 1.2 innings of scoreless baseball.
UP NEXT
The rubber match of the series is scheduled for tomorrow at 1 p.m. in Natchitoches, La.
STAY TUNED
The Cardinals will then come back home to host cross-town rival UTSA at Sullivan Field on Wednesday at 6 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.
