HUNTSVILLE, Texas – The University of the Incarnate Word softball team had no answer for Sam Houston State pitcher Lindsey McLeod, who struck out 19 batters in the Bearkats' doubleheader sweep of the Cardinals, 4-0 and 7-2, Friday afternoon from the Bearkat Softball Complex.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1
Back-to-back two-out doubles gave SHSU a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third, before a three-run home run from Tiffany Thompson in the bottom of the fourth gave the Bearkats a 4-0 lead and eventual win.
Hope Sobolewski and
Victoria Bratcher each had a hit to lead UIW.
Sarah Leal (3-4) took the loss in the circle, as she allowed four runs on six hits in 4.0 innings.
Brett Coleman tossed scoreless final two innings, as she struck out one.
Sheridan Fisher went 2-for-3 to lead SHSU at the plate. Lindsey McLeod (5-4) earned the win in the circle in the complete game effort, as she allowed just the two hits and zero walks while striking out 14 Cardinals.
Game 2
The Bearkats jumped out to a 4-0 lead after two innings, and a 5-0 advantage after four, before UIW got on the board with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth.
Following a one-out Sobolewski double and a walk to
Emily Castro,
Monica Flores brought them both around to score to make it 5-2. This chased starter Kaitlynn Dawson from the circle and bringing McLeod back in. The junior hurler resumed where she left off, as she struck the next two batters – to bring her total to 16 strikeouts on the day – to end the threat. SHSU got the two runs back in the bottom half of the frame for a 7-2 final score.
Flores led the Cardinal offense with a 2-for-3 game with a pair of RBIs.
Jessica Rodriguez (0-3) took the loss in the circle, as she allowed 12 hits, seven runs (four earned) and two walks with one strikeout in 5.1 innings.
Nina Flores pitched the final two-thirds of the inning and allowed one hit.
Four Bearkats had multi-hit games, led by McDonald with a 3-for-4 effort. Dawson (1-1) got the win, as she gave up six hits, two runs, and two walks with three strikeouts. McLeod earned the save as she pitched the final 1.2 innings and struck out five.
UP NEXT
UIW looks to take game three when the Cardinals and Bearkats close the three-game series Saturday at noon.
STAY TUNED
The Cardinals play back-to-back midweek road games next week, beginning with Texas State on Tuesday, Mar. 13 at 2 p.m. before continuing north to face UT Arlington on Wednesday, Mar. 14 at 4 p.m.
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