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SAN ANTONIO, Texas – After playing two-time defending Southland Conference champion, McNeese, tough on the road last weekend, the University of the Incarnate Word softball returns home to face HBU in a three-game conference series Thursday and Friday, Mar. 29-30, from Cardinals Field.

FIRST PITCH

Thursday's single game is slated for 6 p.m., while Friday's doubleheader is scheduled for 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

HBU leads the all-time series, 45-22, and won last season's series, two games to one. The Cardinals' 4-3 win in the series finale on Apr. 1 marked the 300^th victory in program history. The last time these two teams met in San Antonio, the Cardinals swept the series from the Huskies by scores of 7-3, 5-2, and 2-1.

SCOUTING THE HBU HUSKIES

2018: 5-17 overall, 2-7 SLC
Last Game: W 2-1 at Abilene Christian (3/24)
Head Coach: Mary-Ellen Hall
Offensive Leaders:
#14 Nicole Shedd – 22 GP, .302 BA, 19 H, 6 R, 5 2B, 2 HR, 11 RBIs
#8 Demi Janak – 22 GP, .298 BA, 17 H, 8 R, 2 2B, 3 HR, 14 RBIs
#15 Heidi Jaquez – 22 GP, .292 BA, 19 H, 16 R, 5 2B, 4 HR, 13 RBIs
Pitching Leader:
#22 Jessica Patak – 16 GP, 3-10, 3.74 ERA, 9 CG, 1 SHO, 1 SV, 42 SO
Summary: HBU took a Southland Conference series at Abilene Christian last weekend, two games to one. Game one's 3-0 victory snapped a four-game skid for the Huskies. After ACU tied the series with a 7-5 win in game two, HBU took the series the next day with a 2-1 result.

On the season, Nicole Shedd leads the team with a .302 batting average. She is tied with Heidi Jaquez in hits (19) and doubles (5), while Jaquez's four home runs are tops on the team. Demi Janak, who is second on the team with a .298 batting average, leads the Huskies with 14 RBIs, while Jaquez follows with 13. In the circle, freshman Jessica Patak leads the team in appearances (16), starts (13), wins (3), ERA (3.74), complete games (9), shutouts (1), saves (1), and strikeouts (42). Elliott Estes (1-2, 4.75 ERA) and Shae Bibby (1-0, 6.46 ERA) have the team's other two victories. As a team, the Huskies are last in the conference in batting average (.211) and 10th in ERA (4.70).

THE CARDINAL FILE

2018: 6-18 overall, 2-7 SLC
Last Game: L 6-5 at McNeese (3/24)
Head Coach: Joe DiPietro (1^st season)
Offensive Leaders:
#10 Hope Sobolewski – 23 GP, .313 BA, 20 H, 4 R, 1 2B, 3 HR, 12 RBIs
#0 Marcela Lopez – 22 GP, .286 BA, 18 H, 5 R, 1 2B, 4 RBIs, 2 SB
#16 Shelby Neatherlin – 22 GP, .269 BA, 14 H, 6 R, 4 2B, 2 RBIs
Pitching Leader:
#25 Sarah Leal – 13 GP, 5-7, 4.60 ERA, 7 CG, 34 SO
Summary: After being run-ruled in game one at McNeese, 8-0, last Friday, UIW lost a pair of close one-run games against the Cowgirls on Saturday, 5-4 and 6-5. In the first game of the doubleheader, the Cardinals scored a pair of runs in the top of the seventh and had the tying run in scoring position, while in the series finale, McNeese hit a walk-off, two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh to turn a 5-4 deficit to a 6-5 win.

On the season, Hope Sobolewski is batting .313, going 20-for-64 at the plate with four runs, one double, and team bests in home runs (3) and RBIs (12). Sobolewski's .517 batting average in conference play ranks second, as she is 15-for-29 with four runs, one double, three home runs, and eight RBIs. Marcela Lopez is batting .286 with 18 hits, five runs, one double, and four RBIs. She has two of the team's three stolen bases. Shelby Neatherlin follows with a .269 average and is tops on the team in runs scored (6) and doubles (4). In the circle, Sarah Leal has five of the team's wins and leads the Cardinals in ERA (4.60), appearances (13), games started (12), complete games (7), and strikeouts (34). Freshman Breanna Hernandez (1-6, 5.16 ERA), earned her victory with a 1-0 shutout victory over Kansas last week. As a team, the Cardinals rank 11th in both batting average (.219) and ERA (5.19).

UP NEXT

UIW steps out of conference action to play a doubleheader at Texas Southern on Tuesday, Apr. 3 beginning at 3 p.m. from Memorial Park in Houston.

STAY TUNED

The Cardinals return home and to Southland Conference play hosting Northwestern State in a three-game series Apr. 6-7. Friday's doubleheader begins at 5 p.m., while Saturday's single game finale is scheduled for noon.

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.