SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Freshman Ridge Rogers hit 5-for-5 on Sunday to lead the University of the Incarnate Word baseball team past Northern Illinois, 7-5, at Daniel Sullivan Field. With the win, UIW completed a 3-1 series victory over NIU.
 
HOW IT WAS WON
 
For the third time in four games, the Cardinals (8-5) scored first. Sean Arnold led off with a single in the third, before Shea Gutierrez reached on an error by the second baseman. Rogers then laid down a perfectly-executed squeeze bunt that brought Arnold in and placed runners on first and second. Kyle Bergeron drew a walk, loading the bases for Lee Thomas, who notched a sac fly to right field, scoring Gutierrez. David Anaya sent Rogers home with a single to left, before an Eddy Gonzalez single up the middle drove Bergeron in.
 
The Huskies (4-7) got on the board one inning later, turning in a sac fly to make it a 4-1 ballgame.
 
UIW regained a four-run advantage in the bottom of the frame, after a Bergeron sac fly scored Gutierrez.
 
A two-run home run from Brad Wood the following inning made it a 5-3 contest.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, Ryan Flores brought Anaya home with a single up the middle.
 
Two innings later, NIU closed the gap with a pair of singles and a double that resulted in two runs.
 
The Cardinals gave themselves some breathing room in the eighth. Rogers led off with a triple in the left field gap, before being plated by an RBI single from Bergeron.
 
Reliever John Shull presided over a three up, three down ninth, as UIW secured the win.
 
LEADERS
 
Rogers led UIW with a perfect 5-for-5 outing, 2 runs and an RBI. He notched a double, triple and three singles in the victory. Gonzalez finished 3-for-4 with an RBI, while Anaya hit 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Bergeron went 1-for-3 with a pair of RBIs and a run.
 
Wood paced the Huskies with a 3-for-5 performance and a two-run home run.
 
Shull (2-2) captured the win, allowing 2 runs on 4 hits through 4.1 innings of relief. He struck out 5. Tyler Perez got the start, tossing 4.2 innings and allowing 3 runs (2 earned) on 4 hits. He retired 2 and walked 4.
 
Michael Lasieqicz (2-1) took the loss, surrendering 5 runs (3 earned) on 7 hits through 3.1 innings. He fanned 2 and walked 1.
 
QUOTES
 
OVERALL THOUGHTS FROM HEAD COACH PATRICK HALLMARK
"It was a good weekend. We played a good club and they saved their best arm for Sunday, so we had to beat them and we were able to do that."
 
HALLMARK ON UIW'S OFFENSE AGAINST NIU
"We hit good in the fall. Some of the sophomores hit good last year. We've had guys banged up, so we haven't had our best offensive lineup. It was nice to finally have some hits and today we hit off of a really good pitcher."
 
HALLMARK ON WHETHER HE'S EVER SEEN A FRESHMAN GO 5-FOR-5
"I don't know if I have. It was nice to see. He's a great, great player in terms of competitiveness. He's starting to put together some tools as well and that will make him really, really special."
 
Ridge Rogers ON WHETHER HE'S EVER GONE 5-FOR-5 AT THE PLATE BEFORE
"I don't think I have. It's a good feeling though."
 
UP NEXT
 
The Cardinals head 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 begins at noon.
 
STAY TUNED
 
UIW opens Southland Conference play at home against rival Abilene Christian, Mar. 9-11. The teams will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Friday and 2 p.m. on Saturday, before closing out the weekend with a 1 p.m. finale 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.