SAN ANTONIO -- The University of the Incarnate Word softball team is back on the road this weekend for a Southland conference showdown against the Abilene Christian Wildcats. Friday's doubleheader will start at 5 p.m. (CT) with the second game beginning at approximately 7 p.m. The series finale is set for noon Saturday.

FOLLOW ALONG
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THE OPENING PITCH
The Cardinals (2-22, 0-6 SLC) are looking for their first conference win against the Wildcats (8-18, 1-8 SLC).

CASTRO-WORLD

• Junior second baseman Emily Castro had a terrific outing against Central Arkansas in her first home game back from injury, reaching base safely in all three of her plate appearances with two hits, a triple, a walk and an RBI.
• In the next game on Saturday, Castro added another hit and a run scored to round out a superb opening weekend for the veteran infielder.
• She now posts a .273/.333/.455 slash line heading into her second weekend of action.

ROCKET RENEE

• Freshman pitcher/first baseman Renee Hoffman was dynamic against Central Arkansas, particularly in the final two games of the series, where she went 2-5 at the plate with a two-run homer.
• Hoffman's home run came in a pinch-hitting appearance with no outs and a runner on first base, reducing the UCA lead to 10-6 in the bottom of the sixth inning. The six runs scored by the Cardinals tied a season-high.
• In the circle, Hoffman tossed 13.1 innings in total last weekend including a complete game in the second half of Friday's doubleheader. She allowed just two earned runs in that contest.
• She's now second on the team in innings pitched (61.1) and strikeouts (25).

SHEL-B POWER

• Senior third baseman Shelby Neatherlin went 2-7 against Central Arkansas last weekend, launching her team-leading third home run of the year.
• Her one-out solo shot in the fourth inning of the series finale tallied her team-high sixth RBI of the season and pushed her slugging percentage up to .392, also best on the team.
• Neatherlin has now recorded a hit in seven of her last 12 games, including two home runs, two RBIs and two walks.

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
The Wildcats have lost seven out of their last eight games dating back to early March, but are coming off a run-rule victory against North Texas on Tuesday. Sophomore catcher Kayla Keeling is one of the more dangerous hitters in the conference, batting .318/.439/.606 with four home runs and 12 RBIs. In the circle, ACU has struggled to limit opponent run production with three starters posting a 4.32 ERA or higher.

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.