SAN ANTONIO -- The University of the Incarnate Word baseball team, bolstered by solid hitting, beat Eastern Michigan, 8-3, in the opening game of the Alamo Irish Classic at Wolff Stadium on Thursday night.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
After a scoreless first inning, UIW had bases loaded when Ryan Gonzalez stepped up to the plate. R. Gonzalez hit a sacrifice fly -- his second of the season -- to score Taylor Smith before Lee Thomas' single brought home Antonio Valdez to put the Cardinals up 2-0 Cardinal.
 
The Cardinals carried the momentum into the third frame as Valdez's single drove in Smith. Ryan Flores then singled through the right side, plating Valdez and giving UIW a 4-0 advantage in the top of the third.
 
The Eagles cut into the UIW lead in the fourth inning when John Rensel hit an RBI double down the left field line. EMU then added two more runs on a Cardinal miscue, leaving UIW with a 4-3 lead.
 
UIW extended its lead again in the fifth when Kyle Bergeron came home on a Valdez RBI fielder's choice. Flores followed that up with an RBI single to right field, scoring Eddy Gonzalez. With bases loaded further into the inning, Valdez scored another run as Thomas was walked, putting the Cardinals up 7-3.
 
The Cardinals added to their conference-leading number of sacrifice flies in the sixth inning. Smith's sac fly brought home Bergeron, giving UIW eight on the season and an 8-3 win against EMU.
 
NOTABLES

• With R. Gonzalez's sacrifice fly in the second inning, and Smith's in the sixth frame, UIW has recorded a sac fly in each of the last four games; they have had multiple sac flies in three games. The Cardinals have eight sacrifice flies overall.
• This is the fourth game this season where the Cardinals have scored at least eight runs. UIW is 4-0 when scoring eight or more runs.
• Flores led UIW with a 3-for-5 outing and two RBI, while Bergeron had two hits and two runs.
• Thomas also had multiple hits, going 2-for-3 with 2 RBI. Valdez chipped in three runs, two RBI, and a hit.

 
RECORDS UPDATE
UIW: 4-1
EMU: 0-5-1
 
UP NEXT
The Cardinals return to Wolff Stadium on Friday for a matchup with Notre Dame. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m. (CT).
 
FOLLOW ALONG
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.