ABILENE, Texas -- The University of the Incarnate Word baseball team outlasted Abilene Christian, winning a thrilling 4-2 decision over the course of 14 innings on Friday night in the first game of the series.
 
The game was tied 2-2 for nine innings -- with four of those being extra innings -- before Lee Thomas stepped up to the plate and blasted a home run to right field on the second pitch of the 14th inning. Eddy Gonzalez used a sacrifice bunt to score Ridge Rogers, and Bernie Martinez shut down the bottom of the frame to secure the 4-2 win for the Cardinals.
 
NOTABLES

• The Cardinals have won seven consecutive conference games, marking the longest conference winning streak in UIW's DI history.
• UIW is 2-0 in extra inning contests this season.
• Thomas led UIW, going 3-for-6 with a double, a home run, three RBI, and a run. This is Thomas' eighth multi-hit game, and sixth multi-RBI game, of the season.
• Ryan Flores had two hits and chipped in a double and a run. Flores has now had 10 multi-hit games this year.
• Martinez earned the win, striking out five batters and allowing two hits through 6.0 innings pitched. Martinez is 6-0 on the season.
• Luke Taggart delivered another masterful start, going 8.0 innings, surrendering just four hits and two runs while striking out two.
• The Cardinals only needed two pitchers to shut down the Wildcats through 14 innings tonight.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED
After a scoreless first inning, the Wildcats plated a run in the second and one in the third to take a 2-0 advantage, but with two outs in the top of the fourth, UIW came storming back. Thomas smacked a double through the right side, bringing home Ryan Gonzalez and Flores to knot the game at 2-2.
 
Five more blank frames -- where the Cardinals held the Wildcats hitless -- sent the teams to extra innings. Both teams showcased strong pitching and defense for the next several innings, including Martinez striking out the side in the bottom of the 13th.
 
Then, in the top of the 14th, Thomas came through in the clutch once more, clobbering his third home run of the season. E. Gonzalez drove in the insurance run on a sac bunt to give Martinez all the cushion he needed to close out the game and hand UIW its seventh consecutive SLC victory, 4-2.
 
HEAR FROM COACH HALLMARK
"There were lots of positives individually and as a team tonight. Zero errors, terrific pitching, and more.  We use the word persistence a lot in this program, and tonight the guys displayed it wonderfully. The challenge now is to continue with persistence for the rest of the weekend."
 
UP NEXT
The Cardinals take on Abilene Christian on Saturday in game two of the series. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m. (CT).
 
RECORDS UPDATE
UIW: 20-10, 9-4 SLC
ACU: 14-15, 3-7 SLC
 
FOLLOW ALONG
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