SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The University of the Incarnate Word baseball team welcomes rival Abilene Christian to Sully for a three-game Southland Conference-opening series beginning Friday at 6:30 p.m.
 
Game two of the series is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, with the finale set for 1 p.m. Sunday.
 
HOW TO WATCH
 
Fans of UIW baseball can catch all of the action live by watching UIWtv.
 
FIRST PITCH
 
The Cardinals have faced one of the most challenging non-conference schedules in the league, going head-to-head with opponents like No. 8 Texas A&M, No. 30 Notre Dame, Purdue and Kansas State. According to NCAA Division I baseball iterative strength ratings released Mar. 7, UIW boasts the third-toughest schedule in the Southland, behind only Sam Houston and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
 
The Wildcats chose a very different non-conference path and will face their first real challenge of the year on Friday. ACU's opponents (Quinnipiac, Texas Southern, UT-Permian Basin, Mississippi Valley State and Dallas Christian College) hold a combined record of 9-49. The Wildcats are unranked in the iterative strength ratings.
 
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
Record: 10-1 Overall, 0-0 SLC
Head Coach: Britt Bonneau
Leaders:
No. 5 Jr. INF Robert Salazar – .439 AVG, 18 H, 11 R, 10 RBI
No. 3 So. OF Caleb Kyle – .421 AVG, 16 H, 15 R, 10 RBI, 1 HR
No. 6 r-Jr. INF Dalon Farkas – .366 AVG, 15 H, 13 RBI, 11 R, 2 HR
Probable Starters:
Friday: No. 33 Jr. RHP Jonathan Nicholson (1-0) – 4.26 ERA, 19.0 IP, 18 SO, 7 BB
Saturday: No. 40 Jr. RHP Brock Barger (1-0) – 3.79 ERA, 19.0 IP, 20 SO, 7 BB
Sunday: No. 25 Jr. RHP Garrett Hutson (2-0) – 0.00 ERA, 6.0 IP, 11 SO, 0 BB
Summary: The Wildcats finished the 2017 season with a 13-43 overall record and a 3-27 mark in Southland Conference action. ACU is currently 10-1 and coming off of a 11-0 victory over NCCAA opponent Dallas Christian College on Wednesday.
 
The Wildcats lead the league in batting average, doubles, hits allowed per nine innings, on base percentage, runs, sacrifice bunts, scoring, slugging percentage, strikeout-to-walk ratio, WHIP and walks allowed per nine innings.
 
Junior infielder Robert Salazar is the Southland's individual leader in hits per game, while junior infielder Dalon Farkas leads the league in doubles. Sophomore outfielder Caleb Kyle paces the SLC in runs per game.
 
THE CARDINAL FILE
Record: 8-6 Overall, 0-0 SLC
Head Coach: Patrick Hallmark
Leaders:
No. 5 Fr. OF Ridge Rogers – .417 AVG, 15 H, 6 R, 3 RBI
No. 24 So. C Kyle Bergeron – .408 AVG, 20 H, 15 RBI, 9 R, 2 HR
No. 21 Jr. OF Eddy Gonzalez – .375 AVG, 15 H, 8 R, 4 RBI
Probable Starters:
None announced.
Summary:
The Cardinals went 20-36 last season, including an 8-22 mark in Southland Conference action. UIW is currently 8-6 and coming off of a lopsided defeat at Kansas State on Wednesday.
 
The Cardinals lead the nation in sacrifice flies, paced by sophomore infielder David Anaya, who is the country's individual leader in the category. Sophomore catcher Kyle Bergeron was named to the 2018 Johnny Bench Award Watch List on Mar. 7, while freshman outfielder Ridge Rogers took home Southland Conference Hitter of the Week honors on Mar. 6.
 
SERIES HISTORY
 
Abilene Christian holds a 41-24 advantage in the all-time series with UIW, but the Cardinals picked up a 2-1 series victory in the most recent meeting between programs, last season in Abilene.
 
UP NEXT
 
The Cardinals host a two-game midweek series with Maine, beginning Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Game two is set for 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
 
STAY TUNED
 
UIW travels to Conway for a battle with Central Arkansas, Mar. 16-18.
 
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.