SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The University of the Incarnate Word baseball team extended its winning streak to five games and picked up a second-consecutive series sweep on Wednesday night with a 9-8, walk-off victory over Maine at Daniel Sullivan Field.
 
HOW IT WAS WON
 
After a pitching duel on Tuesday, Wednesday's contest featured a combined 15 pitchers, 17 runs, 25 hits and came down to a passed ball that allowed the winning run to score in the bottom of the 10th.
 
The Black Bears (4-13, 0-0 AEC), who were held scoreless in the series opener, finally got on the board with a sac fly in the first inning.
 
The lead was short-lived as the Cardinals (13-6, 3-0 SLC) put up three runs in the bottom of the frame. Kyle Bergeron singled through the left side and advanced to second on a Lee Thomas walk. David Anaya followed with a single to center, scoring Bergeron. An Eddy Gonzalez double six pitches later sent Thomas home, before Anaya was driven in by Ryan Flores.
 
In the second, Ryan Gonzalez led off and launched a solo shot over the Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches sign in left field to give UIW a 4-1 advantage. Ridge Rogers followed with a single to short, before stealing second and eventually stealing third. Maine attempted to throw Rogers out on his second stolen base of the inning, but the throw sailed into left field and Rogers scored.
 
The Black Bears got one back in the third with an RBI single from Jeremy Pena that scored Cody Pasic.
 
Déjà vu struck the following inning when Pena notched his second RBI single and sent Pasic home again.
 
Maine continued to claw its way back in the sixth, launching a solo home run deep over the right field wall to make it a 5-4 contest. After a single, the Black Bears took advantage of an error by the Cardinals to place two runners on. A walk loaded the bases, before Pena grounded out at first and allowed Colin Ridley to tie the game.
 
UIW regained the lead in the bottom of the frame when a one-out, bases-loaded sac fly by Anaya allowed Rogers to score. Bergeron was thrown out attempting to take third on the play, ending the inning and preventing additional runs.
 
Maine upped the drama by loading the bases with no outs in the eighth. Reliever John Shull struck out the next batter he faced, before Anaya was able to get the force out at home one pitch later. With two down and the bases still loaded, Shull fell into a 3-1 hole on the subsequent batter but roared back with consecutive strikes to sit him down and end the inning.
 
The Cardinals added a much-needed insurance run in the eighth on a heads-up play by Ryan Gonzalez. Gonzalez led off with a double to deep left center, bringing Rogers to the plate. A passed ball skipped to the backstop and everyone except Gonzalez and home plate umpire Eric Thompson believed the ball was tipped foul. Gonzalez easily reached third before catcher Cody Pasic realized the play was still live. Gonzalez rounded towards home on a dead sprint and slid in safely before Pasic was able to retrieve the ball.
 
The excitement continued to build in the ninth, when the Black Bears loaded the bases with no outs for a second straight inning. A sac fly made it a one-run ballgame, before a bloop double into shallow left put Maine on top, 8-7.
 
For a second time in as many series, the Cardinals needed a two-out, ninth-inning rally. Eddy Gonzalez drew a walk, before Samuel Gutierrez was hit by a pitch, bringing Tyler Pettit to the plate. Pettit absolutely crushed the second pitch he saw for what appeared to be a walk-off double. Gonzalez easily scored from second, but the ball took an unlucky bounce over the left field wall and a ground rule double held Gutierrez at third. The next batter flied out and the contest was sent to extras.
 
After holding Maine scoreless in the top of the 10^th, Rogers led off with a single to left field in the bottom of the inning. Rogers stole second, and an errant throw allowed him to take third. Four pitches later. he came home on a passed ball and was immediately mobbed by the entire home bench as UIW stormed the field in celebration.
 
LEADERS
 
Bergeron led the Cardinals offensively with a 3-for-6 outing and a run. Rogers finished 2-for-5 with 3 runs scored, while Eddy and Ryan Gonzalez combined for 4 hits, 3 runs and a pair of RBIs. Anaya went 1-for-4 with 2 RBIs and a run scored.
 
Pena paced the Black Bears with a 4-for-6 night, 3 RBIs and a run.
 
UIW tossed nine pitchers on Wednesday night, with Travis Magness (1-0) earning his first collegiate win. He patrolled the mound for the final 2.0 innings, allowing 1 run on 3 hits with 1 walk.
 
Ben Terwilliger (0-1) took the loss, surrendering the game-winning, unearned run. He allowed 1 hit through 0.1 innings of work.
 
NOTEABLES
 
Wednesday marked the Cardinals' first extra-inning victory of the year. UIW was previously 0-2 in extra-inning games.
 
Wednesday was also just the second time this season that the Cardinals won a game in which they did not score first. UIW entered 1-4 in games in which its opponent scored first.

UP NEXT
 
The Cardinals travel to Conway for what should be a telling Southland Conference series with Central Arkansas, beginning Friday at 6 p.m. Game two is set for 4 p.m. Saturday, with the finale slated for 1 p.m. Sunday.
 
STAY TUNED
 
UIW faces a regional test against Texas State in San Marcos on Wednesday, Mar. 21 at 6 p.m.
 
To purchase tickets to any UIW Athletics home event, contact Ticket Sales Coordinator Alma Lara at 210-805-3012.
 
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