SAN ANTONIO -- The University of the Incarnate Word baseball team hosts Houston Baptist for a three-game conference series on Thursday-Saturday. First pitch of the first game is set for 6:30 p.m. (CT) at Daniel Sullivan Field, sponsored by H-E-B.
 
THE GAMES
Thursday, April 18, at 6:30 p.m. (CT)
Friday, April 19, at 6:30 p.m. (CT)
Saturday, April 20, at 2 p.m. (CT)
 
HISTORY VS HOUSTON BAPTIST

• The Huskies hold a 36-25 advantage over the Cardinals in the all-time series.
• The teams first played in 1991, when the Cardinals swept the Huskies in a doubleheader.
• The squads last played on April 20-22, 2018, when the Huskies swept the Cardinals in a three-game series.

 
HIGHLIGHTS FROM LAST WEEK

• UIW defeated Prairie View A&M in a dominating 16-3 victory on April 9. 
• Antonio Valdez hit his first career home run. He went 3-for-6 with three runs, one RBI, a double and a home run.
• Eddy Gonzalez had a 3-for-5 outing with three runs, three RBI and a triple.
• Andrew Morgan earned the win, striking out five batters in 4.0 innings pitched.
• The Cardinals then went 2-1 in a three-game conference series against Nicholls on April 12-14.
• UIW started the series with a 6-4 triumph over Nicholls on April 12.
• Lee Thomas led the Cardinals with a 2-for-4 outing, including four RBI, a run, a double and a home run.
• Luke Taggart (5-3) earned the win, striking out four batters and allowing two runs in 6.1 innings pitched; Bernie Martinez notched his fifth save of the season, allowing two runs while striking out four in 2.2 innings pitched.
• The Cardinals then dropped game two, 7-3, against the Colonels on April 13. 
• UIW ended the series with a 7-4 win over Nicholls on April 14.
• Bernie Martinez earned the win, striking out three batters in 3.1 innings pitched.
• Ryan Flores led the team with a 2-for-5 outing, including three RBI, two runs, a double and a home run.

 
SCOUTING THE HUSKIES

• Houston Baptist is 12-24 overall, 5-10 in the Southland Conference, after a 17-8 loss against Texas State on Tuesday. 
• Brandon Bena leads the Huskies with 40 hits, 24 runs, 25 RBI, and a .320 batting average.
• The Huskies lead the SLC with a 32 double plays.

 
HEY ARNOLD

• Arnold has played in 35 games, starting in 33. He has a .446 on-base percentage. 
• He has notched 44 hits, 29 runs and 20 RBI for a .324 batting average. 
• Arnold has recorded eight doubles, three triples and two home runs for a .471 slugging percentage. He has amassed 12 two-hit games and a three-hit game.
• Arnold was named Southland Conference Hitter of the Week on April 1 after guiding UIW to four wins, including a 3-2 win over No. 7 Texas, throughout the previous week.

 
MARTINEZ ON THE MOUND

• Martinez has five saves this season (6-2, UT-Arlington, March 3; 8-2, Sam Houston State, March 16; 15-7, New Orleans, March 29; 5-2, New Orleans, March 31; 6-4, Nicholls, April 12).
• Martinez sports seven wins and a 1.08 ERA, both tops in the conference.
• 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 upset against No. 23 Texas A&M on Feb. 27.

 
THREE CHEERS FOR SMITH

• Freshman catcher Taylor Smith has started in 35 of 36 games so far. He has notched 41 hits, 33 runs and 35 RBI; he has a .320 batting average. 
• Smith has also tallied nine home runs and 10 doubles for a .609 slugging percentage. He has amassed seven two-hit games, a three-hit game, 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 racked up his third two-home run game in the Cardinals' 19-4 win over UMass on March 12, hitting a three-run blast and a grand slam.

 
GO WITH THE FLO

• Ryan Flores leads the Cardinals with a .345 batting average overall and a .356 batting average in conference play. He has played in 31 games for the Cardinals, contributing 41 hits, 21 runs and 24 RBI.
• He has amassed 11 doubles, a triple and six home runs for a .605 slugging percentage.
• Flores has recorded 10 two-hit games and three three-hit games.
• His season has been highlighted by a 3-for-4 outing with a home run, two runs and an RBI in UIW's 15-7 win over Notre Dame on Feb. 23.
• Flores went 3-for-5 with a home run, a double, four RBI and three runs in the Cardinals' 8-6 victory over McNeese on March 24.

 
CARDINALS SWOOP IN AND STEAL YOUR BASE

• Jordan Thompson and Antonio Valdez have amassed eight stolen bases in the first 36 games of the season, while Sean Arnold has registered seven.
• Eddy Gonzalez and Shea Gutierrez have recorded five stolen bases.
• Ridge Rogers has notched four stolen bases, while Ryan Gonzalez amassed three stolen bases.
• The Cardinals have 44 stolen bases this season, third in the SLC.

 
TAKE ONE FOR THE TEAM

• The Cardinals have amassed 24 sacrifice flies, eighth in the nation.
• Antonio Valdez leads the team with six sacrifice flies -- best in the conference and fifth in the nation -- while Ryan Gonzalez has recorded five sacrifice flies.
• Ridge Rogers, Taylor Smith and Jordan Thompson have registered three sacrifice flies.
• Kyle Bergeron has logged two sacrifice flies, while Ryan Flores and Lee Thomas have chipped in one sacrifice fly.
• Shea Gutierrez leads the team with five sacrifice hits, while Eddy Gonzalez and Ryan Flores have notched three.
• Ryan Gonzalez has recorded two sacrifice hits, while Sean Arnold, Lee Thomas, Tyler Pettit, Ridge Rogers and Chance Medina have one sacrifice hit each. 

 
AROUND THE CONFERENCE

• UIW is second in the conference with 24 sacrifice flies, 74 doubles and 13 triples.
• The Cardinals are second in the conference with 241 runs, 221 RBI and 369 hits.
• UIW ranks second in the conference with a .386 on-base percentage, a .450 slugging percentage and a .977 fielding percentage.
• UIW is third in the conference with 44 stolen bases and 31 home runs.

 
IN THE NATION

• The Cardinals have amassed 24 sacrifice flies, good for eighth in the nation. 

• Bernie Martinez is sixth in the nation with a 1.08 ERA and fourth in the nation with seven wins.
• Antonio Valdez is No. 5 in the nation with six sacrifice flies.
• Ryan Gonzalez ranks 23rd in the nation with five sacrifice flies.
• Eddy Gonzalez is the second toughest batter to strike out in the nation with a 22.0 strikeout rate.

 
SUCCESS AGAINST POWER FIVE OPPONENTS

• UIW has three wins over Power 5 opponents, tied for first in the conference.
• The Cardinals defeated No. 7 Texas, 3-2, on March 26. 
• This victory marked the first time in program history that the Cardinals have defeated two ranked teams in a season. This victory also marked the first time in program history that the Cardinals defeated three Power 5 opponents in a season.
• 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 Cardinals lost, 2-1, against Notre Dame on Feb. 22 but exploded for a 15-7 win against the Fighting Irish on Feb. 23. 
• 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. 

 
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 a midweek matchup against UTRGV on April 23. 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.