SAN MARCOS, Texas -- The University of the Incarnate Word baseball team heads down the road for a midweek matchup against Texas State on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. (CT) at Bobcat Ballpark.
THE GAME
WATCH
LISTEN
STATS
HISTORY VS TEXAS STATE
- The Bobcats have a 24-9 advantage over the Cardinals in the all-time series.
- The teams first played on March 14, 1987, when the Bobcats took two wins, 19-1 and 5-0, in a doubleheader.
- UIW and Texas State last played on March 21, 2018, when the Cardinals fell to the Bobcats, 6-5.
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, marking his third win of the season.
- He also notched his first save of the season in UIW's 6-2 win over UT-Arlington on March 3.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM LAST WEEK
- 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 went 1-2 in their series against UT-Arlington, earning their lone win in Sunday's series finale.
- Antonio Valdez led the Cardinals, starting in all three games of the series. He went 6-for-10, notching four runs, a double and a triple.
- Taylor Smith had a perfect 4-for-4 outing with two RBI in Sunday's 6-2 win. Aaron Celestino earned the win, striking out four and allowing only two runs over 5.0 innings. Bernie Martinez secured the save. He pitched 3.1 innings in relief, striking out four and holding the Mavericks scoreless.
SCOUTING THE BOBCATS
- Texas State is 7-4 overall after a 5-4 loss to Baylor on Sunday. The Bobcats face UTSA on Tuesday night prior to hosting UIW on Wednesday.
- Jaxon Williams leads the Bobcats with 19 hits, 13 runs, eight RBI, and a .463 batting average.
- The Bobcats lead the Sun Belt Conference with seven doubles.
THREE CHEERS FOR SMITH
- Freshman catcher Taylor Smith has started in 11 of 12 games so far. He has notched 17 hits, 10 runs and 12 RBI for a team-best .425 batting average.
- Smith has also tallied two home runs and five doubles for a .700 slugging percentage. He has amassed two 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.
TALK ABOUT THOMPSON
- Freshman centerfielder Jordan Thompson is off to a hot start as a Cardinal, starting in 11 of the first 12 games.
- Thompson has a .364 batting average, including 12 hits, six 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
AROUND THE CONFERENCE
- UIW leads the Southland Conference in stolen bases (25) and sacrifice flies (12).
- UIW also leads the conference in fielding percentage (.987).
- The pitching staff has the conference-best ERA (2.61) and lowest opponent's batting average (.226), while allowing the least runs (35) in the conference.
IN THE NATION
- The Cardinals have racked up a nation-leading 12 sacrifice flies.
- UIW is 25th in the nation with a 2.61 ERA.
- The Cardinals are ninth nationally with a .987 fielding percentage.
- UIW ranks No. 23 in the nation with 121 hits.
- UIW is 12th in the nation with 25 total stolen bases.
- Ryan Gonzalez is No. 6 in the nation with three sacrifice flies
- Aaron Celestino and Bernie Martinez are tied for second nationally with three wins apiece.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE ALAMO IRISH CLASSIC
- Ryan Flores led UIW in the 8-3 win over EMU with a 3-for-5 outing (Feb. 21). He chipped in two RBI, while Kyle Bergeron had two hits and two runs. Lee Thomas also had multiple hits, going 2-for-3 with 2 RBI. Antonio Valdez chipped in three runs, two RBI and a hit.
- 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 RBI. 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.
- UIW amassed 11 hits overall, marking the fourth game of the season where the Cardinals have had double-digit hits.
- Aaron Celestino held the Eagles scoreless through 7.0 innings in the 4-0 win against EMU on Feb. 24. He allowed just three hits while striking out four on 82 pitches.
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 visualimprovements.
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 host Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Friday-Sunday to open Southland Conference Action. The series kicks off on Friday at 6:30 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
.
