Live Stats  |  Tournament Notes

MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. – The University of the Incarnate Word softball team eagerly awaits hitting the diamond, as the Cardinals will compete at the three-day Madeira Beach Showcase, hosted by Eastern Michigan University, Mar. 2-4.
 
FIRST PITCH
 
The Cardinals have not played since the Texas Classic Feb. 9-10. Four of the five scheduled opponents this weekend will be first meetings; only the University at Buffalo has faced the Cardinals before. The Bulls were victorious, 10-7, on Feb. 14, 2015, at the UT Arlington Invitational.
 
UIW Tournament Schedule
Friday, Mar. 2 - UIW vs. Villanova, 11 a.m. (Field 1); Northern Kentucky vs. UIW, 4 p.m. (Field 1)
Saturday, Mar. 3 - UIW vs. Buffalo, 1:30 p.m. (Field 2); Alabama State vs. UIW, 4 p.m. (Field 2)
Sunday, Mar. 4 - UIW vs. Eastern Michigan, 11:30 a.m. (Field 1)
 
Live stats will only be for games either Eastern Michigan is competing in, or the EMU sports information director is statting (3/2 vs. NKU and 3/4 vs. EMU).
 
SCOUTING THE FIELD
 
Summary: Villanova (2-3) already has a taste for the fields at the complex of this weekend's tournament, as the Wildcats opened their season 2-4 last weekend. Villanova defeated Marist, 10-5, and Kent State, 4-2, while losing a one-run game to Nicholls and getting run-ruled by McNeese and Arkansas. Brittany Husk (.438) and Julia DaCosta (.429) are each hitting above .400, while Lauren Hanna is tops with six RBIs. In the circle, Anissa Amarillas is 2-1 with a 3.44 ERA and seven strikeouts.
 
Northern Kentucky (2-2) split at the Campbell Tournament, defeating Bucknell and Campbell, and losing to Morehead State and the host Camels. Madi Mulder is batting .462 with four RBIs, while Taylor Ginther is the top pitcher with a 1-0 record and a 3.82 ERA.
 
Buffalo (5-7) went 4-0 at the Hampton Invitational, defeating Youngstown State (twice), Lafayette, and the host Pirates. Jenelle Martinez (.462) and Anna Aguon (.439) are the top hitters for the Bulls and combine for seven home runs and 26 RBIs. As a team, the Bulls have 11 home runs, 57 RBIs, and 60 runs scored. The Bulls' top pitcher is Ally Power, who has seven of the team's 12 starts, is 4-4 with a 5.08 ERA and 32 strikeouts.
 
Alabama State (4-10) is on a seven-game losing streak after going 0-5 at the Tennessee-Chattanooga Tournament last weekend, facing UT-Martin, Southeast Missouri State, Western Illinois, Western Michigan, and Eastern Illinois. The Hornets are led at the plate by Casey Durham, with a .324 batting average and eight RBIs. Vanessa Bradford is 2-3 with a 2.47 ERA and 29 strikeouts.
 
The first weekend in March marks the third-straight weekend Eastern Michigan (2-8) has hosted an invitational. The most recent tournament saw the Eagles go 2-3, with wins over Rhode Island and Manhattan, and losses to Middle Tennessee, Albany, and Marist. Sam Saporito leads EMU with a .391 batting average, with three doubles and four RBIs. The Eagles' pitching staff has a combined ERA of 3.45, led by the two-headed monster of Nicole Miranda (2.05) and Trisha Trujillo (2.70), who have a combined 39 strikeouts.
 
THE CARDINAL FILE
 
2018: 0-4 overall, 0-0 SLC
Last Game: L 7-1 vs. Wisconsin (2/10)
Head Coach: Joe DiPietro (1^st season)
Offensive Leaders:
#11 Victoria Bratcher – 4 GP, .364 BA, 4 H, 1 2B, 3 RBIs
#0 Marcela Lopez – 4 GP, .333 BA, 4 H, 2 RBIs
#16 Shelby Neatherlin – 4 GP, .273 BA, 3 H, 1 2B
Pitching Leaders:
#25 Sarah Leal – 2 GP, 4.08 ERA, 0-2, 2 CG, 2 SO
Summary: UIW has not played since the Texas Invitational Feb. 9-10. The Cardinals had the following week off, then the Baylor Invitational, which was scheduled for Feb. 23-25, was completely cancelled due to rain.
 
Victoria Bratcher leads the Cardinals with a .364 batting average, going 4-for-11 with a double and three RBIs. Marcela Lopez follows with a .333 average. Junior transfer Suzy Soza made her presence felt, as she has the team's lone home run, which she smacked in the opener against Colorado State. In the circle, Sarah Leal has an 0-2 record with a 4.08 ERA, striking out two and walking six. Both Jessica Rodriguez and Breanna Hernandez have a staff-best three strikeouts apiece.
 
UP NEXT

UIW makes a quick turnaround to face No. 7 Texas A&M next Wednesday, Mar. 7 at 4 and 6 p.m.

STAY TUNED

The Cardinals open Southland Conference play with a three-game series at Sam Houston State Mar. 9-10. Friday's doubleheader begins at 3 p.m., with Saturday's finale starting at noon.

To purchase tickets, contact UIW Ticket Sales Coordinator Alma Lara at 210-805-3012.
 
For the most up-to-date information on Incarnate Word Athletics visit uiwcardinals.com. Be sure to follow Incarnate Word Athletics on Twitter @UIWAthletics and like Incarnate Word Athletics on Facebook at UIW Athletics.