HUNTSVILLE, Texas -- The University of the Incarnate Word baseball team travels to Huntsville, Texas, to face Sam Houston State for a three-game conference series on Friday-Sunday. First pitch of game one is set for 6:30 p.m. (CT) on Friday at Don Sanders Baseball Stadium.
THE GAMES
Friday, March 15, at 6:30 p.m. (CT)
Saturday, March 16, at 3 p.m. (CT)
Sunday, March 17, at 1 p.m. (CT)
HISTORY VS SAM HOUSTON STATE
- Sam Houston State holds a 15-2 advantage over UIW in the all-time series.
- The first time the Bearkats and Cardinals met was on February 17, 1994 when the teams split a doubleheader. The Cardinals won the first game, 4-0, but lost, 9-7, in the second game.
- The last time the teams met was on May 17-19, 2018 when Sam Houston State swept UIW in a three-game series at home.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM LAST WEEK
- The Cardinals took a 19-4 decision against UMass on Tuesday. The game was highlighted by three Cardinals home runs.
- Taylor Smith notched his third two-home run game on the season, blasting a three-run bomb and a grand slam to lead the Cardinals to victory over the Minutemen.
- Sean Arnold recorded his first home run of the season as well.
- Chance Medina and Antonio Valdez also recorded three hits to contribute to the victory.
- UIW went 1-2 in its conference-opening series (March 8-10) against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, with its lone win being a 6-5 victory on March 9.
- Bernie Martinez earned the win on March 9, striking out five batters and holding the Islanders to one run in 2.2 innings pitched.
- Antonio Valdez went 2-for-3 with two RBI, while Ryan Gonzalez went 2-for-4 with two RBI in the 6-5 win (March 9).
SCOUTING THE BEARKATS
- SHSU is 10-4 overall, 3-0 SLC, after a 7-0 loss against Louisiana Tech on Tuesday.
- Jordan Cannon leads the Bearkats with 16 hits, 10 runs, six RBI, and a .457 batting average.
- The Bearkats lead the Southland Conference with a .457 slugging percentage.
SUCCESS AGAINST POWER FIVE OPPONENTS
- The Cardinals defeated No. 23 Texas A&M, 6-5, on Feb. 27. This win marked their second win over a Power 5 opponent in the same week, the first time the Cardinals have done so in program history.
- The game was highlighted by a Jordan Thompson three-run home run, which ended up being the hit that secured UIW's victory.
- Bernie Martinez earned the win, pitching 4.2 innings while holding the Aggies to just two hits and one run.
- The Cardinals lost, 2-1, against Notre Dame on Feb. 22 but exploded for a 15-7 win against the Fighting Irish on Feb. 23.
- Tyler Miller notched a career-high 10 strikeouts in 6.0 innings of work in the 2-1 loss to Notre Dame, allowing just one run on five hits (Feb. 22).
- 15 runs in the 15-7 win against Notre Dame (Feb. 23) marks the most runs scored against a Power 5 opponent in program history.
- Taylor Smith went 4-for-6 while registering his first two home runs as a Cardinal in the game against Notre Dame on Feb. 23. He also tallied five RBIs. This was Smith's second multi-hit game of his career and marked a career high in both hits (four) and RBI (five).
- Ryan Flores and Tyler Pettit contributed three hits each against the Fighting Irish; UIW amassed 11 hits overall, marking the fourth game of the season where the Cardinals have had double-digit hits.
MARTINEZ NAMED SLC PITCHER OF THE WEEK
- Martinez was named Southland Conference Pitcher of the Week on March 5 after a successful week on the mound.
- He led the Cardinals to a 6-5 win against No. 23 Texas A&M on Feb. 27.
- He also notched his first save of the season in UIW's 6-2 win over UT-Arlington on March 3.
- Martinez (4-0) has a nation-leading four wins.
THREE CHEERS FOR SMITH
- Freshman catcher Taylor Smith has started in 16 of 17 games so far. He has notched 23 hits, 18 runs and 25 RBI; he has a .383 batting average.
- Smith has also tallied seven home runs and five doubles for a conference-best .783 slugging percentage. He has amassed four two-hit games and two four-hit games.
- His season has been highlighted by a 4-for-6 outing with two home runs and five RBI in UIW's 15-7 win over Notre Dame on Feb. 23.
- Smith followed the Notre Dame game with a perfect 4-for-4 outing with two RBI in the Cardinals' 6-2 win over UT-Arlington on March 3.
- Smith recorded his second two-home run game in UIW's 11-6 loss to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on March 10, blasting a solo home run as well as a three-run bomb for four RBI.
- Smith recorded his third two-home run game in the Cardinals' 19-4 win over UMass on March 12, blasting a three-run bomb and a grand slam.
- Smith leads the conference with seven home runs.
TALK ABOUT THOMPSON
- Freshman centerfielder Jordan Thompson is off to a hot start as a Cardinal, starting in 16 games.
- Thompson has a .321 batting average, including 17 hits, nine runs, and 14 RBI.
- Thompson's hot start was driven by a 2-for-4 outing with a double and five RBIs in UIW's 12-1 win over Hofstra on Feb. 16.
- Thompson was 2-for-4 with a run and three RBI against the 23rd-ranked Aggies on Feb. 27, including a three-run bomb that ended up securing the victory for UIW.
CARDINALS SWOOP IN AND STEAL YOUR BASE
TAKE ONE FOR THE TEAM
AROUND THE CONFERENCE
- UIW is second in the Southland Conference in sacrifice flies (13).
- The defense has turned 15 double plays, first in the conference.
- The Cardinals ranks third in the conference with 181 hits.
- UIW has a .976 fielding percentage, second-best in the conference.
- The pitching staff has the conference-best ERA (3.22).
- The Cardinals are third in the conference with 26 stolen bases.
- The Cardinals are second in the conference with a .310 batting average.
IN THE NATION
- The Cardinals have racked up 13 sacrifice flies, fifth best in the nation.
- UIW's 15 double plays ranks No. 18 in the nation.
- The Cardinals are 16th in the nation in batting average (.310).
- UIW ranks No. 16 in the nation with 181 hits.
- Taylor Smith ranks No. 8 nationally with seven home runs.
- Ryan Gonzalez and Antonio Valdez are No. 13 in the nation with three sacrifice flies.
- Bernie Martinez is second in the nation with four wins.
HALLMARK HITS FROM 2018
- In his first year as head coach, Patrick Hallmark led the program to its most overall (29) wins and most conference (13) wins -- and its first winning season -- since joining Division I and the Southland Conference.
- Ridge Rogers was selected Southland Conference Freshman of the Year after the 2018 season.
- Rogers was also named to the 2018 Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-America team, becoming the program's first All-American since joining Division I in 2014.
WHAT'S IN A NAME
Sullivan Field, now sponsored by H-E-B, underwent renovations in the fall. Astroturf was
installed in the infield, and the stadium received new backstops, netting, and other visual
improvements.
PRESEASON HONORS
- Kyle Bergeron and Eddy Gonzalez earned preseason first-team All-SLC, while Ryan Flores earned preseason second-team All-SLC.
- Cody Allen was named to the NCBWA 2019 Stopper of the Year Preseason Watchlist.
- Bergeron was named to the Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award Watchlist.
EXPERIENCED LINEUP
The Cardinals' entire starting rotation returns, and the team lost only one outfielder from
the starting lineup.
UP NEXT
The Cardinals return home for a midweek matchup against Texas State on March 19. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. (CT) at Sullivan Field, sponsored by H-E-B.
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
.
