SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Catcher Kyle Bergeron doubled his home run total for the year and pitcher Cody Allen turned in a solid relief performance from the mound on Tuesday night as the University of the Incarnate Word baseball team picked up a 6-4 victory over Southern in the first meeting between the two teams in program history.
 
HOW IT WAS WON
 
Jake Zatopek got the start against the Jaguars (7-16, 4-7 SWAC) and immediately ran into some trouble, walking the first batter and hitting the next to put runners at first and second with no outs. But Ryan Gonzalez and Nick Diaz turned a 643 double play, assisted by an impressive grab from Ryan Flores at first base. On the next pitch, Ridge Rogers made a spectacular diving catch in right-center to end the threat.
 
UIW (16-11, 6-4 SLC) got on the board on the bottom of the second, as Rogers' RBI single to left brought the pinch runner Shea Gutierrez home. The Cardinals loaded the bases, but the Jaguars got a fly out to end the inning without further damage.
 
In the top of the third, new Cardinal hurler Jenner Jackson walked Javeyan Williams, but later picked him off. That play loomed large, as the next batter, John Pope, hit a double in the gap for the Jaguars' first hit of the game. Jackson struck out Bobby Johnson to keep the Cardinals ahead, 1-0.
 
UIW doubled its lead in the bottom of the third, as Eddy Gonzalez led off the inning with a single, stole second, then scored on David Anaya's RBI single through the right side.
 
Ashanti Wheatley drew a one-out walk in the top of the fourth and put himself in scoring position after stealing both second and third, but Jackson buckled down and got an inning-ending strikeout to keep the goose egg on the scoreboard.
 
In the bottom half of the frame, Bergeron made Southern pay for walking both Ryan Gonzalez and Mark Whitehead. Bergeron's three-run blast to left increased the Cardinals' lead to 5-0.
 
The Jaguars got on the board in the top of the fifth, as Pope's infield single allowed Williams to score from third. Freddy Montesino advanced to third on the throw to put runners on the corners with one out. Following a pop up that made it two outs, it looked like the Cardinals were going to escape the inning with only the one run allowed. Anaya made a beautiful diving stop on the third base line, but his throw sailed past first base, as Southern's second run of the inning came home and forced a Cardinals pitching change, with Tyler Perez relieving Ramon Salazar. Perez made a strong play, throwing Wheatly out at first after striking him out. Wheatly struck out swinging, but the ball bounced of the chest protector of Sean Arnold and Perez alertly fielded the ball and fired him out at first.
 
Perez ran into some trouble in the top of the seventh, as Williams drew a leadoff walk, then reached third on a stolen base and error on the throw. The next batter, Montesino, also walked to put Jaguars on the corners and bring the tying run to the plate with nobody out. Pope's RBI single plated the third run for Southern and put the tying run on base with UIW leading, 5-3.
 
After another run crossed the plate in the top of the seventh to make it a one-run game, 5-4, Anaya made a heads-up play on the hot corner, as a chopper was hit to him and he threw to home to keep the tying run from scoring. Following a pitching change which saw Allen come to the mound, the hard-throwing righty got a strikeout to end the inning with the Cardinals still up, 5-4.
 
Bergeron added a security run in the bottom of the inning, notching a solo shot no-doubter to left for his second home run of the night.
 
Allen retired seven of the last 10 batters he faced and punctuated the victory with a strikeout.
 
LEADERS
 
Bergeron went 2-for-4 to lead the Cardinals, driving in 4 runs with both hits leaving the park. Eddy Gonzalez and Rogers also recorded 2-for-4 nights, with Gonzales notching an RBI.
 
John Pope led the Jaguars with a 3-for-4 outing and drove in 2 of Southern's 4 runs.

Zatopek (2-1) earned the win, tossing 2.0 scoreless, hitless innings. Jenner Jackson was solid in relief, allowing just 1 hit with 3 strikeouts through 2.0 innings of work. Allen picked up his third save of the season, fanning 5 batters over the final 2.1 scoreless, hitless innings.
 
Austin Haensel (0-1) took the loss, surrendering 1 run on 2 hits through 2.0 innings on the hill. He struck out 1.
 
UP NEXT
 
UIW returns to Southland Conference play with a three-game series at Stephen F. Austin Thursday through Saturday. The first two days are scheduled for 6:30 p.m., while Saturday's finale is set for 1 p.m.
 
STAY TUNED
 
The Cardinals host Texas Southern in a three-game series next weekend, Apr. 6-8, with times set for 6:30 p.m., 2 p.m., and 1 p.m.
 
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.