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SAN ANTONIO – The University of the Incarnate Word softball team looks to get back to its winning ways when the Cardinals host No. 23 Texas State on Wednesday, Apr. 18 at 6 p.m. from Cardinals Field.
 
FIRST PITCH
 
Wednesday's matchup is the second of a home-and-home series between the two teams. The Bobcats doubled up the Cardinals, 6-3, on Mar. 13 in San Marcos, in a game where the Bobcats were receiving votes in the poll.
 
TXST leads the all-time series, 7-3, and has won the last two games. The last UIW win in the series came Mar. 23, 2016; a 9-4 victory in San Marcos.
 
SCOUTING THE TEXAS STATE BOBCATS
 
2018: 31-10 overall, 12-2 Sun Belt
Last Game: L 3-1 at No. 21 Louisiana-Lafayette (4/16)
Head Coach: Ricci Woodard
Offensive Leaders:
#25 Hailey MacKay – 41 GP, .392 BA, 47 H, 22 R, 7 2B, 9 HR, 32 RBIs
#20 Brianna Sannem – 35 GP, .328 BA, 19 H, 10 R, 6 2B, 1 HR, 10 RBIs, 3 SB
#2 Ariel Ortiz – 41 GP, .319 BA, 36 H, 21 R, 8 2B, 2 3B, 4 HR, 30 RBIs, 7 SB
Pitching Leader:
#4 Randi Rupp – 31 GP, 19-7, 1.29 ERA, 22 CG, 7/1 SHO, 3 SVS, 243 SO
Summary: TXST had its nine-game winning streak snapped by the hands of No. 21 Louisiana-Lafayette. The Bobcats won the opener, 4-0 in eight innings, but the Ragin' Cajuns won the next two and the series, 5-1 and 3-1.
 
On the season, Hailey MacKray is fourth in the Sun Belt with a .392 batting average. She is 37-for-120 with 22 runs, seven doubles, and team bests of nine home runs and 32 RBIs. Ariel Ortiz follows with 30 RBIs and has seven stolen bases, six shy of leader Christiana McDowell's 13. In the circle, Randi Rupp leads the conference in ERA (1.29), wins (19), games played (31), complete games (22), shutouts (seven solo and one combined), and strikeouts (243). As a team, the Bobcats are fourth in the SBC in batting average (.282) and leads the league in ERA (1.84).
 
THE CARDINAL FILE
 
2018: 12-24 overall, 5-13 SLC
Last Game: L 3-2 at Abilene Christian (4/14)
Head Coach: Joe DiPietro (1^st season)
Offensive Leaders:
#10 Hope Sobolewski – 35 GP, .280 BA, 28 H, 4 R, 2 2B, 3 HR, 16 RBIs
#22 Angel Villanueva – 24 GP, .354 BA, 17 H, 11 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 9 RBIs, 1 SB
#32 Delaney Guzman – 32 GP, .232 BA, 19 H, 11 R, 6 2B, 5 HR, 9 RBIs
Pitching Leader:
#12 Breanna Hernandez – 15 GP, 4-9, 4.20 ERA, 8 CG, 1 SHO, 35 SO
Summary: UIW was swept in a Southland Conference series last weekend at Abilene Christian by scores of 8-0, 6-0, and 3-2. The eventual Pitcher of the Week, ACU's Hannah Null, scattered just six hits and did not all a run in 14.2 innings against the Cardinals, getting the win in all three games.
 
Angel Villanueva is sixth in the SLC with a .354 batting average, going 17-for-48 at the plate. Her 11 runs scored share the team lead with Delaney Guzman. The latter leads the team with five home runs and is third on the team with nine RBIs. Hope Sobolewski is tops on the team in hits (28) and RBIs (16). Emily Castro has 13 RBIs. In the circle, Breanna Hernandez leads the Cardinals with a 4.20 ERA, while Sarah Leal leads the team in wins (8), complete games (10), and strikeouts (59). As a team, the Cardinals rank 12th in the SLC in both batting average (.222) and ERA (4.74).
 
UP NEXT

UIW hosts Stephen F. Austin in a three-game SLC series Friday and Saturday, Apr. 20-21. Friday's doubleheader is scheduled for 4 and 6 p.m., while Saturday's finale is set for noon.

STAY TUNED

The Cardinals conclude the home-and-home series with UTSA, playing at Roadrunner Field next Wednesday, Apr. 25 at 6 p.m. UIW won the first meeting, 4-3, on Apr. 11 at Cardinals Field.

To purchase tickets, contact Ticket Sales Coordinator Alma Lara at 210-805-3012.
 
For the most up-to-date information on UIW Athletics, visit uiwcardinals.com, follow the Cardinals on Twitter @UIWAthletics and like UIW Athletics on Facebook at UIW Athletics.