SAN ANTONIO – Junior Angel Villanueva's go-ahead two-run triple highlighted the University of the Incarnate Word softball's 4-2 game one win, but the Cardinals ran into a buzzsaw in Northwestern State pitcher, Micaela Bouvier, as the hurler tossed a one-hit shutout in a 10-0 Lady Demon victory in game two Friday evening from Cardinals Field.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
Game 1: UIW 4, NWST 2
UIW (11-20 overall, 5-9 SLC) got on the board in the bottom of the first as Hope Sobolewski's RBI single brought home Jordan Goins. The Lady Demons (23-12, 10-4) took a 2-1 lead, as Sidney Harris' RBI single brought home two unearned runs.
 
UIW scored three times in the bottom of the fifth to take the lead for good. Goins led off the inning with a double down the line. Following a sacrifice bunt and an infield error that put Cardinals on the corners with nobody out, Angel Villanueva cleared the bases with a triple down to left-center to put UIW ahead, 3-2. Two batters later, Monica Flores' sacrifice fly brought home Villanueva for a 4-2 advantage.
 
NWST had a chance in the top of the seventh with runners at first and second following a pair of singles. But UIW hurler, Breanna Hernandez, struck out E.C. Delafield to end the game.
 
Sobolewski went 2-for-2 with an RBI and a walk to lead the Cardinals at the plate. Hernandez (4-6) won her third-straight game, as she allowed seven hits and zero earned runs while striking out two in the complete-game effort.
 
Both Sidney Salmans and Harris had two hits to lead the Lady Demons. Mikayla Brown (9-3) took the loss in the circle, as she gave up five hits, four runs (one earned), and three walks with three strikeouts.
 
Game 2: NWST 10, UIW 0
NWST jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the first inning, as Kaitlyn St. Clair hit a three-run blast to left-center field.
 
That was all the scoring Lady Demon pitcher, Micaela Bouvier, needed, as she was two outs away from her second-career no-hitter.
 
The Cardinals had their best opportunity in the bottom of the sixth, as Hailey Goins drew a leadoff walk, advanced to scoring position on a sac bunt. But Bouvier got a pop out and a strikeout to end the threat.
 
The flood gates opened in the top of the seventh, as NWST brought 10 batters to the plate in a six-run inning.
 
Nina Flores had the lone hit for UIW. Sarah Leal (6-8) took the loss in the circle, as she allowed five hits and four runs with two strikeouts in 4.0 innings. Brett Coleman pitched the final three innings and may have allowed six runs, but they were all unearned. She struck out two and walked one.
 
St. Clair went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and four RBIs to pace the Lady Demon offense. Bouvier (11-5) struck out seven in the gem.
 
UP NEXT

UIW looks for the series win as the two teams meet at noon on Saturday.

STAY TUNED

The Cardinals play the first game of a home-and-home with UTSA, hosting the Roadrunners next Wednesday, Apr. 11 at 6 p.m.

To purchase tickets, contact Ticket Sales Coordinator Alma Lara at 210-805-3012.
 
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