SAN ANTONIO -- The University of the Incarnate Word baseball team hosts Texas A&M-Corpus Christi to open Southland Conference play on Friday-Sunday. The first pitch of game one is slated for 6:30 p.m. (CT) on Friday at Daniel Sullivan Field, sponsored by H-E-B.
 
THE GAMES
Friday, March 8, at 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 9, at 2 p.m.
Sunday, March 10, at 1 p.m.
 
HISTORY VS TEXAS A&M-CORPUS CHRISTI

• The Islanders have a 16-7 advantage over the Cardinals in the all-time series.
• The teams first played on March 8, 2000, when the teams split a doubleheader. The Cardinals lost, 9-1, in the first game but won, 15-6, in the second game.
• UIW and the Islanders last played on May 11-13, 2018, when the Islanders swept the Cardinals in a three-game series in Corpus Christi.

 
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 TEXAS STATE

• The Cardinals suffered a 7-4 loss to the Bobcats on Tuesday.
• Ryan Flores was 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI, and a run. Flores has five multi-hit games this season.
• Lee Thomas also went 2-for-4; he chipped in two RBI, marking his second multi-RBI outing of the season.
• Sean Arnold extended his hitting streak to eight games.

 
SCOUTING THE ISLANDERS

• Texas A&M-Corpus Christi is 9-5 overall after a 12-2 loss to Texas A&M on Tuesday.
• Itchy Burts leads the Islanders with 21 hits, 12 runs, seven RBI, and .375 batting average.
• The Islanders lead the Southland Conference with a .321 batting average and 153 hits.

 
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.

 
THREE CHEERS FOR SMITH

• Freshman catcher Taylor Smith has started in 12 of 13 games so far. He has notched 18 hits, 11 runs and 13 RBI for a team-best .409 batting average.
• Smith has also tallied two home runs and five doubles for a .659 slugging percentage. He has ammased 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 12 games.
• Thompson has a .361 batting average, including 13 hits, seven 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

• Jordan Thompson has amassed six stolen bases in the first 13 games of the season, while Eddy Gonzalez has registered four.
• Shea Gutierrez and Sean Arnold have recorded three stolen bases, while Ryan Gonzalez, Antonio Valdez, Kyle Bergeron and Ridge Rogers have all notched two.
• The Cardinals have 25 stolen bases this season, second in the SLC and 20th in the nation.

 
TAKE ONE FOR THE TEAM

• The Cardinals have amassed a nation-leading 12 sacrifice flies.
• Ryan Gonzalez leads the team with three sacrifice flies -- best in the conference and seventh in the nation -- as well as a sacrifice hit.
• Kyle Bergeron, Antonio Valdez and Taylor Smith have recorded two sacrifice flies each.
• Jordan Thompson, Ryan Flores and Ridge Rogers have chipped in one sacrifice fly apiece.
• Ryan Flores, Sean Arnold, Shea Gutierrez and Chance Medina each have one sacrifice hit.

 
AROUND THE CONFERENCE

• UIW leads the Southland Conference in sacrifice flies (12).
• The Cardinals rank fourth in the conference with 130 hits.
• UIW has a conference-best fielding percentage (.988).
• The pitching staff has the best ERA in the conference (2.97) and lowest opponent's batting average (.232), while allowing the second-least runs (42) in the conference.
• The Cardinals are second in the conference in stolen bases (25).

 
IN THE NATION

• The Cardinals have racked up a nation-leading 12 sacrifice flies.
• The Cardinals are seventh nationally with a .988 fielding percentage.
• UIW ranks No. 25 in the nation with 130 hits.
• UIW is 20th in the nation with 25 total stolen bases.
• Ryan Gonzalez is No. 7 in the nation with three sacrifice flies.
• Aaron Celestino and Bernie Martinez are tied for fourth nationally with three wins apiece.

 
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 host the University of Massachusetts midweek on March 12. First pitch is set for 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.