SAN ANTONIO -- The University of the Incarnate Word softball team faces a pair of interesting nonconference opponents this week, starting with a doubleheader at Texas Southern on Tuesday, followed by a 6 p.m. battle against the No. 11 Texas Longhorns in Austin on Wednesday.

FOLLOW ALONG
Texas Southern
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Texas
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THE OPENING PITCH
The Cardinals (4-40, 2-22 SLC) are looking to get back in the win column Tuesday against the Tigers (19-22, 14-0 SWAC) at 2 p.m. (CT) and 4 p.m. before heading to Austin for a matchup against Texas (39-12, 10-6 Big 12) at 6 p.m.

HOPE'S HEATING UP

• Senior first baseman Hope Sobolewski has been a regular on the base paths of late, reaching base in six of the last eight games
• She leads the team with eight multiple hit games (including two 4-hit games) and three multi-RBI games
• Sobolewski is putting together a great senior campaign, leading all qualified hitters on the team in batting average (.266) slugging percentage (.468) on-base percentage (.333), doubles (five) and home runs (five).
• In the month of April, Sobolewski is batting .328 with two doubles, two grand slams and 10 RBIs.

DUAL THREAT

• Freshman pitcher Renee Hoffman has been hitting well, particularly in games when she pitches.
• The Michigan product is batting .279 with a double, home run, three RBIs and four runs scored in games that she starts in the circle.
• In the circle, Hoffman has surrendered three or fewer runs in five consecutive starts and seven out of the last eight. In the last five contests, she has a 4.80 ERA with six strikeouts.

ANGEL'S APRIL

• Senior shortstop Angel Villanueva has put together a strong month in April, batting .216/.341/.480 with a double, three home runs, four walks, 11 RBIs and five runs scored.
• Villanueva is second on the team in home runs (4) and tied for second on the team in RBIs (13).
• The senior leads the team in stolen bases with 10.

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Texas Southern
The Tigers are dominating the SWAC, winners of all 14 conference games they've played so far. Marissa Padron is one of the top hitters in the league, batting .337 with 10 doubles, two home runs and 15 RBIs. Naomi Reyes is the top pitcher on staff, registering a 2.59 ERA with 71 strikeouts through 89.1 innings of action.

Texas
The Longhorns are coming off a series sweep of the Kansas Jayhawks that moved them up to third place in the Big 12 standings. Mary Iakapo is batting .381 with five doubles, nine home runs and 34 RBIs to pace the Longhorns, while Shealyn O'Leary is a force on the mound with a 0.50 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 84.0 innings pitched.

STAY TUNED
Be sure to follow the Cardinals this week on Twitter @UIWSoftball and visit uiwcardinals.com for post game stories recapping the day's action.