SAN ANTONIO -- The University of the Incarnate Word softball team is back home this weekend for a Southland conference showdown against the Central Arkansas Sugar Bears. Friday's doubleheader will start at 5 p.m. (CT) with the second game beginning at approximately 7 p.m., while the series finale is set for noon Saturday.

FOLLOW ALONG
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THE OPENING PITCH
The Cardinals (2-19, 0-3 SLC) are looking to get back in the win column against the Sugar Bears (14-16, 1-5 SLC) after suffering a midweek loss to Texas State on Wednesday (March 20)

SOBOLEWSKI'S STREAK

• Senior first baseman Hope Sobolewski went 2-3 in the third game of the series at McNeese (3/9), her third multi-hit game in the last five outings.
• She leads the team with a .261 batting average, six RBIs and a .435 slugging percentage. Over the last two weeks, she's batting a phenomenal .428.
• She is hitting .667 (6-9) at home this season with four RBIs, including a walkoff two-RBI single to win the second game of 3/6/19 doubleheader against TSU.
• Her four hits in the win were a career high.

MAKING THEM EARN IT

• Brett Coleman pitched her eighth complete game of the season against McNeese State on 3/9/19, tossing six innings and surrendering no earned runs on a season-low two hits with three strikeouts.
• The sophomore now leads the team in innings pitched (57.2) and strikeouts (34).
• She's held opponents to two or fewer earned runs in six out of the last eight contests.

HOFFMAN EMERGES VICTORIOUS

• In the 3/6/19 matchup against TSU, freshman pitcher Renee Hoffman threw a complete game, pitching a total of eight innings and surrendering just three earned runs on eight hits to pick up the first win of her college career.
• Hoffman struck out six batters in the outing, tying her season high. She now leads the team in opposing batting average (.282).
• In the same game, the freshman also produced at the plate. She finished 1-4 with a run scored, helping her own cause as she lifted the Cardinals to victory.

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Central Arkansas won both of its midweek games this week, taking down Louisiana-Monroe and Baylor. The Sugar Bears have two conference leaders in junior infielder Cylia Hill, who leads the SLC in batting average at .404, and Libby Morris, whose seven home runs pace the conference.  Sophomore pitcher Rio Sanchez leads the Sugar Bears with a 5-5 record and 3.06 ERA in 52.2 innings pitched.

STAY TUNED
Be sure to follow the Cardinals this weekend on Twitter @UIWSoftball and visit uiwcardinals.com for post game stories recapping the day's action.