NATCHITOCHES, La.--The University of the Incarnate Word baseball team swept Northwestern State in a doubleheader (6-5 in game one, 12-9 in game two) on Sunday afternoon to secure the series victory over the Demons at Brown-Stroud Field.
 
NOTABLES

• With UIW's win in the first game Sunday, the Cardinals clinched their spot in the Southland Conference tournament.
• UIW is the first conference team to win a series at Northwestern State this season.
• Lee Thomas had a 2-for-4 outing in game one, including a home run, a run and four RBI.
• Ryan Gonzalez led the Cardinals in game two, going 4-for-5 with a home run, two runs and three RBI.
• Bernie Martinez (9-1) earned the win in game one, striking out three in 4.1 innings pitched.
• John Shull (2-0) earned the win in game two, striking out three in 2.1 innings pitched.
• Game two concluded after eight innings due to Southland Conference's curfew rule.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
GAME 1
The Cardinals took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning when Ryan Gonzalez hit a solo home run to left center field. A RBI single by Eddy Gonzalez and a grand slam by Lee Thomas in the bottom of the third then gave the Cardinals a 6-0 advantage.
 
The Demons plated a run in the fifth to make the score 5-1, in favor of UIW. NSU continued its comeback attempt, scattering four runs across the seventh, eighth and ninth innings, but UIW's defense held fast to take a 6-5 triumph.
 
GAME 2
UIW scored four runs in the top of the first to jump out to another early advantage. R. Gonzalez drove home Antonio Valdez to kick off the scoring, while E. Gonzalez smacked a double to bring home R. Gonzalez. Taylor Smith then scored on a Thomas single before E. Gonzalez stole home to top off the four-run inning, taking a 4-0 advantage.
 
Northwestern State scattered four runs across the second and third innings to tie the game at 4-4, but the Cardinals responded in the fourth frame when a Valdez single plated Ridge Rogers to give the Cardinals a 5-4 lead. Smith added a three-run home run in the top of the sixth to extend UIW's lead to 8-4.
 
The Demons plated three runs in the bottom of the sixth to make the score 8-7, with UIW still on top, but the Cardinals answered again. Shea Gutierrez scored on a NSU error before R. Gonzalez hit a two-run bomb in the seventh to push the Cardinals' lead to 11-7. 
 
Thomas hit his second home run of the day, this time a solo shot, in the top of the eighth to extend UIW's advantage to 12-7. The Demons plated two runs in the bottom of the frame, but the Cardinals went on to secure the 12-9 victory.
 
RECORDS UPDATE
UIW: 34-17, 17-10 SLC
NSU: 29-21, 14-13 SLC
 
UP NEXT
The Cardinals return to the Lone Star State to face Texas on Tuesday in Austin. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. (CT) at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
 
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