SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The University of the Incarnate Word baseball team will play its first road series of the season this weekend as the squad travels more than 600 miles northeast to Conway for a Southland Conference matchup with Central Arkansas, beginning Friday at 6 p.m.
Game two of the series is set for 4 p.m. on Saturday, with the finale slated for 1 p.m. on Sunday.
FIRST PITCH
One of only two undefeated teams in the league, UIW is currently tied with Sam Houston for a share of the conference lead. The Cardinals have faced an incredibly challenging non-conference schedule, including matchups with No. 8 Texas A&M, Purdue, Kansas State and a victory over No. 30 Notre Dame, but this weekend's series will be a true test of the Cardinals' grit. UIW is currently 0-2 on the road and faces a UCA squad that has finished near the top of the Southland for the last four years.
SCOUTING THE BEARS
Record: 9-8 overall, 1-2 SLC
Head Coach: Allen Gum
Leaders:
No. 3 Sr. OF Dusty Wright – .440 AVG, 11 H, 5 R, 5 RBI
No. 21 Sr. INF Rigo Aguilar – .346 AVG, 18 H, 17 R, 12 RBI, 1 HR
No. 9 Sr. INF Josh Somdecerff – .345 AVG, 20 H, 12 RHI, 11 R, 1 HR, 2 SB
Probable Rotation:
No. 35 Sr. RHP Tyler Gray (2-0) – 2.25 ERA, 24.0 IP, 35 SO, 12 BB
No. 42 Jr. RHP Tanner Wiley (0-0) – 2.29 ERA, 19.2 IP, 17 SO, 10 BB
No. 44 Sr. LHP Will Brand (0-4) – 5.32 ERA, 23.2 IP, 21 SO, 6 BB
Summary: Last season the Bears went 34-36 overall with a 16-13 mark in league action. UCA lost to Sam Houston in the Southland Conference Tournament Championship, 9-4.
The Bears are currently 9-8 overall, with a 1-2 mark in league play. UCA dropped its Southland Conference-opening series to McNeese in Lake Charles but responded with a two-game midweek sweep of Southeastern Missouri State at home.
The Bears are third in the league in walks, on base percentage and triples. Righty Tyler Gray is second in the Southland in strikeouts per nine innings.
THE CARDINAL FILE
Record: 13-6 overall, 3-0 SLC
Head Coach: Patrick Hallmark
Leaders:
No. 21 Jr. OF
Eddy Gonzalez - .403 AVG, 25 H, 12 R, 9 RBI, 4 SB, 1 HR
No. 24 So. C
Kyle Bergeron - .382 AVG, 29 H, 16 RBI, 14 R, 3 SB, 2 HR
No. 5 Fr. OF
Ridge Rogers - .367 AVG, 22 H, 12 R, 6 RBI, 5 SB
Probable Rotation:
No. 23 Jr. P
Bernie Martinez (2-1) – 3.29 ERA, 27.1 IP, 22 SO, 5 BB
No. 38 So. P
Luke Taggart (2-1) – 4.38 ERA, 24.2 IP, 19 SO, 5 BB
No. 45 Fr. P
Jake Zatopek (1-1) – 1.84 ERA, 14.2 IP, 9 SO, 7 BB
Summary: Last season UIW posted a 20-36 overall record and an 8-22 mark in Southland Conference play. The Cardinals are currently 13-6 overall with a 3-0 mark in league action. UIW picked up a Southland Conference-opening sweep of Abilene Christian last weekend, before earning a two-game midweek sweep of Maine.
The Cardinals lead the nation in sac flies (14), paced by the country's individual leader in that category, sophomore infielder
David Anaya (6). UIW paces the league in shutouts (2), while sophomore catcher
Kyle Bergeron leads the Southland in hits (29).
SERIES HISTORY
Central Arkansas holds a 6-3 advantage in the all-time series with UIW. The Cardinals swept their three-game series with the Bears in 2015, but UCA returned the favor with a three-game sweep of UIW in the most recent meeting between programs in 2016.
UP NEXT
The Cardinals face a regional matchup with Texas State at 6 p.m. on Wednesday in San Marcos.
STAY TUNED
UIW welcomes Lamar to Daniel Sullivan Field for a three-game series, beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Mar. 23. Game two is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday, with the finale set for a 1 p.m. first pitch on Sunday.
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.
