SAN ANTONIO, Texas – A 10
th inning run proved to be the difference on Saturday as the University of the Incarnate Word baseball team dropped game three of its four-game series with North Dakota State, 4-3.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Cardinals took a first-inning lead when
Eddy Gonzalez and
Mark Whitehead successfully executed a double steal from first and third.
On the next play,
Kyle Bergeron singled to left field, bringing Gonzalez in for the Cardinals' second run of the inning.
NDSU cut the lead in half in the top of the second when Logan Busch doubled to right center, scoring Jayse McLean.
With two runners on and no outs,
Tyler Miller retired three straight batters to preserve the lead in the third.
In the bottom of the frame,
Tyler Pettit singled to right center, advancing
Shea Gutierrez to home. Whitehead walked, moving Petitt to second, but a double play prevented kept the score at 3-1.
In the top of the fourth, the Bisons' McLean walked and advanced to third after a single through the right side. Two batters later, a groundout to third gave McLean room to make it home.
The Cardinals made a pitching change, and
Jenner Jackson forced a popup to end the inning.
After another UIW pitching change, the Bison tied things up, 3-3, with a homerun to left field in the eighth.
NDSU loaded the bases in the ninth but
Tyler Miller forced a fly out to center and escaped the inning unscathed.
Both teams went scoreless in the ninth, setting up the Bison for a 10th-inning victory. NDSU singled to right, before a double on the next at bat resulted in the go-ahead run.
The Cardinals' leadoff batter in the bottom of the frame was hit by a pitch, but UIW was unable to capitalize and the visitors hung on for the win.
LEADERS
Gonzalez led the Cardinals offensively with a 2-for-3 outing and a run scored. Whitehead finished 1-for-3 with 2 walks and a run, while Bergeron went 2-for-5 with an RBI. Pettit hit 1-for-3 and drove in 1.
McLean paced the Bison with a 2-for-3 day and 3 runs scored. Busch was 3-for-5 with a pair of RBIs and batted in the game-winning run.
UP NEXT
UIW's series finale with NDSU is set for 1 p.m. tomorrow.
STAY TUNED
UIW will compete at Nelson Wolff Stadium, Feb. 22-24, in the Alamo Irish Classic. The tournament begins Thursday at 7 p.m. as the Cardinals take on host school Notre Dame. UIW faces Purdue at 4 p.m. on Friday, before a bout with Saint Louis at 4 p.m. on Saturday. Sunday's matchups, including the tournament championship, will be determined by the preceding games.
To purchase tickets to any UIW Athletics home event, contact Ticket Sales Coordinator
Alma Lara at 210-805-3012.
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