SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The University of the Incarnate Word baseball team entered the ninth inning trailing by one on Saturday, but a two-out, two-run rally with a walk-off single from Ryan Gonzalez lifted the Broadway Birds to an 8-7 victory over rival Abilene Christian at Sully.
 
HOW IT WAS WON
 
The Cardinals (10-6, 2-0 SLC) scored first for the 10^th time this season, taking a 1-0 lead on an Eddy Gonzalez single through the right side that scored Lee Thomas in the first inning.
 
UIW's advantage was short-lived, as the Wildcats (10-3, 0-2 SLC) notched a solo shot in the top of the second to tie things up. Three batters later, an RBI bunt single gave ACU a 2-1 lead. An error on the next at bat scored another, before the Cardinals were able to stop the bleeding.
 
The Wildcats added a pair of runs in the fourth to secure a 5-1 advantage.
 
UIW flipped the momentum in the bottom of the inning, starting with a Thomas double to right center that sent Kyle Bergeron home. Three batters later, Eddy Gonzalez launched a two-run home run that made it a 5-4 ballgame.
 
After Tyler Perez held the Wildcats scoreless in the fifth, the Cardinals tied the game in the bottom of the inning with a seeing-eye single through the right side off the bat of David Anaya.
 
After turning in a 0-for-5 performance with three strikeouts and a loss on the mound in game one, Derek Scott put ACU back on top in the sixth with his second solo home run of the day. The homer sailed over the wall in straight away center, only inches past the out-stretched glove of Ridge Rodgers.
 
UIW responded in the bottom of the frame, when Sean Arnold reached on an error that allowed pinch runner Christian Rodriguez to come in and tie the game.
 
The fourth home run of the night and third by the Wildcats gave ACU a 7-6 advantage in the eighth.
 
With two outs in the ninth, Thomas singled up the middle to give the Cardinals life. Shea Gutierrez pinch ran for Thomas and quickly stole second. Anaya rewarded Gutierrez' efforts by sending him home with a double to right center. Ryan Gonzalez stepped to the plate and sailed the second pitch he saw over the head of the first baseman. Anaya rounded third and sprinted for home, sliding in safely as UIW stormed the field in celebration.
 
LEADERS
 
Eddy Gonzalez finished 2-for-4 with 3 RBIs, 2 runs and a two-run home run. Thomas went 3-for-4 with and RBI and 2 runs scored, while Bergeron turned in a 3-for-5 day with a pair of runs. Ryan Gonzalez started the day 0-for-4, but stepped up at the right moment to register the game-winning RBI single.
 
Scott paced ACU offensively with a 2-for-5 day, 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored, including a pair of solo bombs.
 
Cody Allen (2-1) earned the win, tossing the final 1.2 innings and holding the Wildcats hitless with a pair of strikeouts.
 
Jonathan Nicholson (1-1) took the loss, surrendering 3 runs (2 earned) on 6 hits through 4.1 innings of work. He struck out 4.
 
NOTEABLES
 
Including Saturday's victory, the Cardinals are 10-2 this season when scoring first.

UP NEXT
 
UIW and ACU will close out the weekend with a 1 p.m. finale on Sunday.
 
STAY TUNED
 
The Cardinals host a two-game midweek matchup with Maine, beginning Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Game two of the series is set for 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
 
To purchase tickets to any UIW Athletics home event, contact Ticket Sales Coordinator Alma Lara at 210-805-3012.
 
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