SAN ANTONIO, Texas – For a second consecutive game, the University of the Incarnate Word baseball team dug itself out of a two-run hole for a comeback win, exploding for five runs in the seventh inning on Sunday to capture a 7-6 win and complete a three-game, Southland Conference-opening series sweep of rival Abilene Christian.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
The Wildcats (10-4, 0-3 SLC) teed off in the first inning with five singles to secure an early 3-0 advantage.
 
The Cardinals (11-6, 3-0 SLC) got one back in the second as Mark Whitehead's double to left center sent David Anaya home.
 
UIW continued to chip away at the lead with a run in the fourth. Eddy Gonzalez singled to right field, advanced to third on a pair of wild pitches and eventually scored on a sac bunt from Ryan Gonzalez.
 
ACU grabbed a 4-2 advantage in the sixth when Seth Watts singled to center, advanced on a wild pitch and came in on a Lane Bourland single up the middle.
 
The game turned in the bottom of the seventh as the Cardinals erupted for five runs to take a 7-4 lead. Ryan Gonzalez drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a sac bunt from Nick Diaz. Ridge Rogers singled to left field, scoring Gonzalez, and after advancing to second on the throw, an error allowed Rogers to move to third. Kyle Bergeron followed with a perfectly-executed sac bunt that allowed Rogers to score, despite the infield playing in. Bergeron reached safely on the fielder's choice and advanced to second on the play. Lee Thomas stepped to the plate and annihilated the first pitch he saw. Thomas' hit, which would have easily been a home run on a normal day, flew directly into Sunday's 21 MPH wind and still managed to bounce off the wall in right center. The powerful stand-up double scored Bergeron from second. Anaya drew a walk on the next at bat, before an Eddy Gonzalez single to center scored Thomas. Anaya advanced to third when Sean Arnold was hit by a pitch and scored on a Whitehead sac fly to center field.
 
The Wildcats made things interesting with a ninth-inning rally attempt, registering three straight singles to score a pair. With two outs and runners on second and third, Robert Salazar made hard contact, firing a ground ball at Anaya. Anaya sacrificed his body by stepping in front of the ball to knock it down. Maintaining his composure, Anaya reached down, fielded the ball and fired a perfect strike to Arnold at first that narrowly beat Salazar to prevent the game-tying run and seal the victory.
 
LEADERS
 
Eddy Gonzalez led UIW with a 3-for-5 outing, 1 RBI and 1 run. Bergeron finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Rogers and Thomas each notched a hit, an RBI and a run, while Whitehead turned in a 1-for-2 outing and a pair of RBIs.
 
Dalton Dunn paced ACU with a 3-for-5 day at the plate and 2 runs scored.
 
Luke Taggart (2-1) earned the win, allowing 4 runs on 11 hits through 7.0 innings of work. He struck out 3 and walked 1. Reliever Cody Allen picked up his second save of the year, tossing the final 2.0 innings and allowing 2 runs on 3 hits, while walking 1 batter.
 
Colter Brasher (2-1) took the loss, surrendering 6 runs on 7 hits through 6.1 innings on the hill. He retired 3 batters and walked 5.
 
NOTEABLES
 
Sunday's victory marked the first time this season that the Cardinals did not score first and still won. UIW was previously 0-4 in games in which its opponent scored first.

UP NEXT
 
The Cardinals host a two-game midweek series with Maine, beginning Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Game two is set for 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
 
STAY TUNED
 
UIW travels to Conway for a battle with Central Arkansas, Mar. 16-18.
 
To purchase tickets to any UIW Athletics home event, contact Ticket Sales Coordinator Alma Lara at 210-805-3012.
 
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.