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SAN MARCOS, Texas – The University of the Incarnate Word softball team ends their season-opening 16-game road stretch with a pair of mid-week contests against two Sun Belt opponents. The Cardinals play at Texas State on Tuesday, Mar. 13 at 2 p.m., before continuing north to play UT Arlington on Wednesday, Mar. 14 at 4 p.m.
 
FIRST PITCH
 
TXST leads the all-time series, 6-3, and won the most-recent meeting, 6-0, last February as part of the UTSA Tournament. UIW upset the Bobcats two seasons ago, 9-4, on TXST's own field.
 
UTA has won all four meetings over UIW in decisive fashion, but the Mavericks have yet to face the Cardinals in San Antonio.
 
SCOUTING THE TEXAS STATE BOBCATS
 
2018: 17-7 overall, 2-0 Sun Belt Conference
Last Game: W 5-4 (9 innings) at Georgia State (3/11)
Head Coach: Ricci Woodard
Offensive Leaders:
#25 Hailey MacKay – 24 GP, .394 BA, 28 H, 13 R, 4 2B, 6 HR, 17 RBIs
#3 Bailee Carter – 23 GP, .339 BA, 20 H, 13 R, 2 2B, 1 3B, 8 RBIs
#2 Ariel Ortiz – 24 GP, .328 BA, 22 H, 11 R, 5 2B, 3 HR, 22 RBIs
Pitching Leader:
#4 Randi Rupp – 18 GP, 1.65 ERA, 11-5, 12 CG, 2 SHO, 137 SO
Summary: TXST is on a three-game winning streak following a pair of Sun Belt games at Georgia State and a victory over HBU. The Bobcat offense is lethal, as they have scored five or more runs in 11 of the 24 games. Hailey MacKay leads the team in batting average (.394), hits (28), home runs (6), and is second in RBIs (17), doubles (4), and runs (13). The Bobcats have a pair of sub-2.00 ERA pitchers, with McKenna Fryar (1.24) and Randi Rupp (1.65). Rupp has 137 strikeouts in just 18 games, averaging seven strikeouts a contest. The Bobcats as a team have a batting average of .289 and an ERA of 1.94.
 
SCOUTING THE UT ARLINGTON MAVERICKS
 
2018: 9-11 overall, 0-2 Sun Belt Conference (host Iowa State Tuesday)
Last Game: L 3-2 at South Alabama (3/11)
Head Coach: Peejay Brun
Offensive Leaders:
#2 Sandra Mendoza – 20 GP, .343 BA, 23 H, 12 R, 3 2B, 9 RBIs
#5 Krista Rude – 20 GP, .310 BA, 18 H, 10 R, 3 RBIs, 8 SB
#16 Alleen Garcia – 20 GP, .210 BA, 13 H, 1 3B, 2 HR, 12 RBIs
Pitching Leader:
#3 Joanna Valencia – 13 GP, 2.37 ERA, 4-7, 5 CG, 1 SHO, 20 SO
Summary: UTA opened Sun Belt action with a pair of losses at South Alabama. The Mavericks are led at the plate by Sandra Mendoza, with a .345 batting average, 23 hits, and 12 runs. Her nine RBIs trail Alleen Garcia (12) and Reagan Wright (11). Former UIW Cardinal, Joanna Valencia, leads the UTA pitching staff with a 2.37 ERA and her 20 strikeouts share the team lead with Randi Phillips. UTA has a cumulative batting average of .254 and an ERA of 3.41.
 
 
THE CARDINAL FILE
 
2018: 3-11 overall, 0-3 SLC
Last Game: L 8-0 (5 innings) at Sam Houston State (3/10)
Head Coach: Joe DiPietro (1^st season)
Offensive Leaders:
#11 Victoria Bratcher – 12 GP, .308 BA, 12 H, 4 R, 3 2B, 4 RBIs
#16 Shelby Neatherlin – 14 GP, .273 BA, 9 H, 3 R, 3 2B, 1 RBI
#0 Marcela Lopez – 14 GP, .250 BA, 10 H, 2 R, 2 RBIs
Pitching Leader:
#25 Sarah Leal – 8 GP, 4.87, 3-4, 4 CG, 16 SO
Summary: UIW ran into a buzzsaw named Lindsey McLeod, as the Sam Houston State pitcher struck out 29 Cardinals in a three-game series Southland Conference sweep of UIW, 4-0, 7-2, and 8-0. In game one, she tied the program record with 14 strikeouts.
 
On the season, Victoria Bratcher has a team-best .308 batting average, going 12-for-39 at the plate with four runs, four RBIs, and three doubles. Shelby Neatherlin follows with a .271 average, as she also has three two-baggers. Emily Castro has a team-best five RBIs and is batting .300 with a .600 slugging percentage. In the circle, Brett Coleman has appeared in four games with one start and has a staff-best 3.28 ERA, with four walks and five strikeouts. Sarah Leal is 3-4 with a 4.87 ERA, 12 walks, and 16 strikeouts. As a team, the Cardinals are batting .198 and have a combined ERA of 5.58.
 
UP NEXT

The Cardinals finally return home to face Southland Conference foe, Central Arkansas, next Friday and Saturday, Mar. 16-17. Friday's doubleheader begins at 5 p.m., while Saturday's finale starts at noon. Saturday's contest features a special price for fans to receive a ticket for admission and a limited-edition St. Patrick's Day themed hat, while supplies last. For more information, please contact Alma Lara at 210-805-3012.


STAY TUNED

UIW hosts Kansas in a doubleheader next Wednesday, Mar. 21, with first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m.

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.