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SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The University of the Incarnate Word softball team ends their five-game home stand with a doubleheader against the Kansas Jayhawks on Wednesday, Mar. 21, beginning at 3 p.m. from Cardinals Field.
 
FIRST PITCH
 
Wednesday will mark the first meeting between the Cardinals and Jayhawks on the softball field. Kansas has played three Southland Conference teams so far this season: Lamar (L 13-4, at UTSA Tournament), Stephen F. Austin (W 11-1, at Central Arkansas Tournament), and at Central Arkansas (W 12-1).
 
SCOUTING THE KANSAS JAYHAWKS
 
2018: 22-6 overall, 0-0 Big 12
Last Game: W 3-0 vs. UMKC (3/18)
Head Coach: Megan Smith
Offensive Leaders:
#2 Jessie Roane – 28 GP, .409 BA, 36 H, 13 R, 12 2B, 4 HR, 25 RBIs
#1 Sam Dellinger – 27 GP, .355 BA, 27 H, 18 R, 9 2B, 2 HR, 12 RBIs
#30 Harli Ridling – 28 GP, .348 BA, 31 H, 11 R, 8 2B, 4 HR, 16 RBIs
Pitching Leader:
#25 Sarah Miller – 10 GP, 6-2, 1.79 ERA, 3 CG, 28 SO
Summary: Kansas went 5-1 at its own Rock Chalk Challenge last weekend, defeating Northern Colorado twice, Western Illinois, Saint Louis, and UMKC. Kansas' 22-6 record is the third-best in the challenging Big 12 conference.
 
On the season, Jessie Roane is seventh in the Big 12 with a .409 batting average, going 36-for-88 with 13 runs scored, a conference-best 12 doubles, four home runs, and 25 RBIs. Sarah Miller's 1.79 ERA ranks her sixth in the conference among pitchers, as she is 6-2 with 28 strikeouts. As a team, the Jayhawks are hitting .314 and have a staff ERA of 2.53.
 
THE CARDINAL FILE
 
2018: 5-14 overall, 2-4 SLC
Last Game: W 4-3 vs. Central Arkansas (3/17)
Head Coach: Joe DiPietro (1^st season)
Offensive Leaders:
#10 Hope Sobolewski – 18 GP, .286 BA, 14 H, 3 R, 1 2B, 2 HR, 9 RBIs
#0 Marcela Lopez – 19 GP, .269 BA, 14 H, 3 R, 2 RBIs, 2 SB
#11 Victoria Bratcher – 17 GP, .259 BA, 14 H, 4 R, 3 2B, 4 RBIs
Pitching Leader:
#25 Sarah Leal – 10 GP, 5-4, 4.28 ERA, 6 CG, 26 SO
Summary: UIW won a season series over Central Arkansas for the first time in program history, as the Cardinals took two of three games from the Bears. Hope Sobolewski hit .667 with three RBIs and two runs scored in the series. All three of her RBIs came in the 4-3 finale, as she had an RBI single and a two-run home run that tied the game at 3-3. Bailey Thomas was the star of game one, as she hit a grand slam in the Cardinals' 5-3 win over the Bears. Sarah Leal won both games for the Cardinals, as she tied her career high of six strikeouts in game one, and got out of a bases-loaded-nobody-out jam with UIW leading 4-3 in game three. Both Sobolewski and Leal were named Southland Conference Honorable Mention Players of the Week.
 
On the season, Sobolewski leads the Cardinals with a .286 batting average, going 14-for-49 at the plate with four runs, one double, two home runs, and a team-best nine RBIs. Her two homers are tied with Emily Castro and Delaney Guzman for the team lead. Marcela Lopez follows with a .278 average (15-for-54) and has two of the team's three stolen bases. Teanna Lucio, Shelby Neatherlin, and Guzman each have a team-best five runs scored. In the circle, Leal leads the pitching staff in ERA (4.28), wins (5), appearances (10), starts (9), complete games (6), innings (55.2), and strikeouts (26). As a team, the Cardinals have a .214 batting average and 5.37 ERA.
 
UP NEXT

UIW returns to Southland Conference play at McNeese Mar. 23-24 from Cowgirl Stadium in Lake Charles, La. Friday's game is scheduled for 6 p.m., while the first game of Saturday's doubleheader is set for noon.

STAY TUNED

The Cardinals return home to face HBU, with the games scheduled for next Friday and Saturday, Mar. 30-31.

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.