SAN ANTONIO -- The University of the Incarnate Word baseball team hosts the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff for a three-game nonconference series on Friday-Sunday at Daniel Sullivan Field, sponsored by H-E-B. Game one is slated for a 6:30 p.m. (CT) first pitch on Friday night.
 
THE GAMES
Friday, April 26, at 6:30 p.m. (CT)
Saturday, April 27, at 2 p.m. (CT)
Sunday, April 28, at 1 p.m. (CT)
 
HISTORY VS ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF
This is the first meeting between the Cardinals and the Golden Lions.
 
HIGHLIGHTS FROM LAST WEEK

• UIW went 2-1 in a three-game conference series against Houston Baptist on April 18-20. 
• The Cardinals began the series with a 6-3 victory over the Huskies on April 18.
• Sean Arnold had a 3-for-5 outing with a double, a run and a RBI, while Eddy Gonzalez was 3-for-4 with a home run, a run and a RBI.
• Luke Taggart (6-3) earned the win, striking out five in 6.0 innings pitched.
• UIW then secured the series victory with a 4-3 triumph over Houston Baptist on April 19. 
• Arnold led the Cardinals with three hits, including a run, while Lee Thomas went 2-for-4 with a home run, a double, two RBI and a run.
• Tyler Miller earned the win, striking out nine batters in 5.1 innings pitched; Bernie Martinez recorded his sixth save of the season, striking out a batter in 1.0 innings pitched.
• The Cardinals dropped the series finale, 8-6, to the Huskies on April 20.
• UIW secured a 6-4 win against UTRGV on Tuesday.
• E. Gonzalez led the Cardinals with a 3-for-4 outing, including a double and a run.

 
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN LIONS

• UAPB is 6-32 overall, 2-17 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, after a 13-3 loss against Central Arkansas on Tuesday. 
• Nick Kreutzer leads the Golden Lions with 47 hits, 26 runs, 39 RBI, and a .362 batting average.
• The Golden Lions are second in the SWAC with a .957 fielding percentage.

 
HEY ARNOLD

• Sean Arnold has played in 39 games, starting in 37. He leads the team with a .452 on-base percentage. 
• He has notched 54 hits, 33 runs and 23 RBI for a .346 batting average. 
• Arnold has recorded nine doubles, three triples and three home runs for a .500 slugging percentage. He has amassed 14 two-hit games and three three-hit games.
• 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 six 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; 4-3, Houston Baptist, April 19).
• The Laredo, Texas, native sports seven wins and a 0.98 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 39 of 40 games so far. He has notched 46 hits, 35 runs and 41 RBI; he has a .322 batting average. 
• Smith has also tallied 10 home runs and 10 doubles for a .601 slugging percentage. He has amassed nine two-hit games, a three-hit contest, 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 .350 overall batting average and a .347 batting average in conference play. He has played in 35 games for the Cardinals, contributing 48 hits, 26 runs and 26 RBI.
• He has amassed 13 doubles, a triple and eight home runs for a .635 slugging percentage.
• Flores has recorded 13 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, Antonio Valdez, and Sean Arnold have each amassed eight stolen bases.
• 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 45 stolen bases this season, third in the SLC.

 
TAKE ONE FOR THE TEAM

• The Cardinals have amassed 26 sacrifice flies, eighth in the nation.
• Antonio Valdez leads the team with six sacrifice flies -- best in the conference and sixth 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, Eddy Gonzalez, Lee Thomas and Tyler Pettit 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 leads the conference with 86 doubles, 37 home runs, 26 sacrifice flies and 243 RBI.
• The Cardinals have a .389 on-base percentage and a .465 slugging percentage, both tops in the conference.
• UIW is second in the conference with a .302 batting average.
• The Cardinals are second in the conference with 421 hits, 263 runs and 15 triples.
• UIW is third in the conference with a .976 fielding percentage and a 3.88 ERA. 

 
IN THE NATION

• The Cardinals have amassed 26 sacrifice flies, good for eighth in the nation. 
• UIW is 19th in the nation with a .302 batting average.
• The Cardinals have 15 triples, good for 21st in the nation.
• UIW is No. 24 in the nation with 86 doubles.
• Bernie Martinez is third in the nation with a 0.98 ERA 
• Martinez and Luke Taggart are No. 11 in the nation with seven wins.
• Antonio Valdez is eighth in the nation with six sacrifice flies.
• Eddy Gonzalez is the second toughest batter to strike out in the nation with an 18.0 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 travel to Prairie View A&M for a midweek tilt against the Panthers on April 30. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. (CT) at John W. Tankersley Field.
 
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.