HOUSTON, Texas – The University of the Incarnate Word softball team steps out of Southland Conference play briefly for a doubleheader at Texas Southern on Tuesday, Apr. 3 beginning at 2 p.m. from Memorial Park.
FIRST PITCH
UIW leads the all-time series, 7-4, and swept a doubleheader from the Lady Tigers last season in San Antonio by scores of 5-1 and 8-1.
SCOUTING THE TEXAS SOUTHERN LADY TIGERS
2018: 15-6-1 overall, 5-0 SWAC
Last Game: W 9-1 at Grambling State (3/31)
Head Coach: Worley Barker
Offensive Leaders:
#22 Terren Vinson – 20 GP, .400 BA, 22 H, 17 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 10 RBIs, 16 SB
#32 Sierra Valdez – 19 GP, .400 BA, 20 H, 8 R, 4 2B, 2 HR, 10 RBIs
#5 Jocilynn Ellis – 19 GP, .395 BA, 17 H, 11 R, 3 2B, 5 RBIs, 4 SB
Pitching Leader:
#15 Lauren Rodriguez – 10 GP, 8-0, 1.52 ERA, 2 CG, 1/1 SHO, 37 SO
Summary: TSU rolled in a three-game SWAC series at Grambling State, winning 15-2, 11-0, and 9-1 last weekend. Both Terren Vinson and Sierra Valdez are hitting .400 with 10 RBIs. Vinson leads the Lady Tigers in with 22 hits, 17 runs scored, and is a perfect 16-for-16 in stolen bases. Valdez and Madilynn Marek each have two home runs. In the circle, the ERA leader is Tyra Williams (1.19), but Lauren Rodriguez hasn't lost in the circle yet this season (8-0) and holds a 1.52 ERA with two complete games, one complete game shutout and one shared blanking, and a team-best 37 strikeouts. Not to be outdone is Jasmin Fulmore, who is 2-2 with a 1.35 ERA and 32 strikeouts. As a team, the Lady Tigers lead the SWAC in both batting average (.306) and ERA (2.91). TSU has played four Southland teams: HBU (L 3-2, W 4-2), Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (W 4-3, W 8-6, T 9-9), Stephen F. Austin (L 12-5), and Sam Houston State (W 5-4).
THE CARDINAL FILE
2018: 8-19 overall, 4-8 SLC
Last Game: L 6-2 vs. HBU (3/30)
Head Coach: Joe DiPietro (1
st season)
Offensive Leaders:
#10
Hope Sobolewski – 26 GP, .292 BA, 21 H, 4 R, 1 2B, 3 HR, 12 RBIs
#0
Marcela Lopez – 25 GP, .257 BA, 18 H, 5 R, 1 2B, 4 RBIs, 3 SB
#32
Delaney Guzman – 24 GP, .230 BA, 14 H, 9 R, 4 2B, 4 HR, 6 RBIs
Pitching Leader:
#25
Sarah Leal – 15 GP, 6-8, 4.33 ERA, 9 CG, 43 SO
Summary: UIW won its second Southland Conference series of the season, taking two of three from visiting HBU over the weekend, winning games one and two, 2-1 and 6-4, before dropping the finale, 6-2, on a six-run seventh inning for the Huskies. In the Cardinals' two wins,
Delaney Guzman hit home runs that put the hosts in the lead for good: a solo shot in game one's 2-1 win and a three-run blast in game two that turned a 4-3 deficit to a 6-4 win. In those games, Guzman went 3-for-4 at the plate with 3 runs, 4 RBIs, 2 walks and 0 strikeouts, while slugging 1.500 on the week.
Sarah Leal leads the pitchers in wins (6), ERA (4.33), complete games (9), and strikeouts (43), but
Breanna Hernandez has played well recently, both in the circle and at the plate. In the last three weeks, the freshman is 2-1 with a 2.80 ERA, three complete games, one shutout, and 12 strikeouts, while batting .429 with three hits, one double, one run scored, and two RBIs. As a team, the Cardinals are 11th in the Southland Conference in batting (.214) and last in ERA (4.97). UIW has played one SWAC school this season (Alabama State, W 3-2).
UP NEXT
UIW returns to Southland Conference action this weekend, hosting a Northwestern State squad that is tied for the conference lead with a 9-3 record (21-11 overall). Friday's doubleheader is scheduled for 5 and 7 p.m., while Saturday's finale is set for noon.
STAY TUNED
The Cardinals play the first of a home-and-home with UTSA, hosting the Roadrunners on Wednesday, Apr. 11 at 6 p.m. from Cardinals Field.
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.
