SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The University of the Incarnate Word baseball team overcame less-than-perfect defensive play on Friday night to secure a 7-3 victory over Northern Illinois in the series opener at Daniel Sullivan Field.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Cardinals (6-4) came out swinging and cashed in with a first-inning run.
Kyle Bergeron notched a double to left field, before scoring on an
Eddy Gonzalez single to short.
UIW capitalized on an error by the Huskies (3-5) to put up an unearned run the following inning. With
Tyler Pettit on second,
Christian Rodriguez punched a slow roller to second base and the ball was overrun, allowing Pettit to come home.
The Cardinals took a stranglehold on the game in the third. UIW converted three singles, two grounds outs, a walk and an error into three additional runs for a 5-0 lead.
NIU broke up the shutout in the fifth, taking advantage of a pair of errors by the Cardinals to score one. The damage could have been worse, as the Huskies loaded the bases with just one out, but a strikeout and fielder's choice ended the frame.
UIW recaptured a five-run lead in the bottom of the inning with a
Garrett Terrell sac fly that scored
David Anaya.
The Huskies responded in the sixth to make it a 6-3 ballgame. Scooter Bynum led off with a triple to right field, before a Hunter Bross sac fly sent him home. Bross stole second, before a Josh Mutter single allowed him to score. Mutter advanced to second on a passed ball and the subsequent batter, Brad Wood, was hit by a pitch. With runners on first and third, Wood tried to steal second, but
Sean Arnold's perfect throw gunned him down and prevented any further damage.
The Cardinals added a security run in the eighth on a Bergeron single that sent Pettit in.
Cody Allen closed out the ninth with a strikeout and a pair of ground outs to preserve the win.
LEADERS
Gonzalez led UIW with a perfect 3-for-3 outing, an RBI and a run scored. Bergeron continued his brilliance at the plate with a 2-for-5 night, while also adding an RBI and a run. Pettit finished 1-for-2 with 2 RBIs and a run scored, while Anaya hit 1-for-2 with a pair of RBIs.
Lee Thomas went 1-for-4 with a run in the win.
Tommy Washington paced NIU with a 2-for-3 night, while Bross registered 2 RBIs on a 1-for-4 performance.
Bernie Martinez (1-1) earned the win, allowing 3 runs (2 earned) on 5 hits through 6.0 innings on the mound. He struck out 5 and walked 2. Allen picked up his first save of the year, tossing 3.0 scoreless innings and allowing just 2 hits, while fanning 3 batters.
George Faue (0-3) took the loss, surrendering 6 runs (5 earned) on 8 hits through 5.0 innings of work. He retired 3 and walked 3.
UP NEXT
The Cardinals and Huskies will meet for a 12 p.m. doubleheader tomorrow, before closing out the weekend with an 11 a.m. series finale on Sunday.
STAY TUNED
UIW heads to Manhattan, Kan., for a two-game series against Kansas State, March 6-7. Tuesday's game is set for 3 p.m., while Wednesday's contest is scheduled for noon.
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.
