SAN ANTONIO -- The University of the Incarnate Word baseball team hosts the University of Central Arkansas for a three-game conference 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, May 3, at 6:30 p.m. (CT)
Saturday, May 4, at 2 p.m. (CT)
Sunday, May 5, at 1 p.m. (CT)
 
HISTORY VS CENTRAL ARKANSAS

• The Bears hold a 10-5 advantage in the all-time series over the Cardinals.
• The teams first played on March 10-11, 2014, when the Bears swept the Cardinals in a three-game series.
• The squads last played on March 16-17, 2018, when the Bears securing three wins over UIW.

 
HIGHLIGHTS FROM LAST WEEK

• The Cardinals swept Arkansas-Pine Bluff on April 26-28.
• UIW opened the series with a 12-1, seven-inning win over the Golden Lions on April 26.
• Ridge Rogers had a 3-for-4 outing including three RBI, two runs and two stolen bases.
• Andrew Morgan earned the win, striking out two batters in 4.0 innings pitched.
• The Cardinals then secured the series victory with a 15-11 triumph on April 27.
• Antonio Valdez went 4-for-5 with four doubles, four runs and three RBI, while Rogers had a perfect 3-for-3 outing with two runs, a RBI and a double.
• Tyler Perez earned the win, striking out three batters in 2.0 innings pitched; Bernie Martinez notched a save, striking out two in 1.1 innings pitched.
• UIW completed the series sweep with a 9-3 victory on April 28.
• Rogers had a perfect 2-for-2 outing with three runs and a double.
• Tyler Miller earned the win, striking out five in 3.0 innings pitched.
• The Cardinals then secured a 14-3, seven-inning win over Prairie View A&M.
• Sean Arnold led the team with a 3-for-5 outing, including five RBI, two runs, a double and a home run.
• Aaron Celestino earned the win, striking out two batters in 3.0 innings pitched.

 
SCOUTING THE BEARS

• Central Arkansas is 23-21 overall, 13-8 in the Southland Conference, after a 4-2 loss against Houston Baptist on Sunday. 
• Josh Ragan leads the Bears with 48 hits, 31 runs, 29 RBI, and a .314 batting average.
• The Bears lead the SLC with a 3.33 ERA.

 
HEY ARNOLD

• Sean Arnold has played in 43 games, starting in 41. He leads the team with a .382 batting average in conference play.
• He has notched 60 hits, 40 runs and 32 RBI for a .349 overall batting average. 
• Arnold has recorded 11 doubles, three triples and five home runs for a .535 slugging percentage. He has amassed 15 two-hit games and four three-hit games.
• The Bryan, Texas, native 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 seven 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; 15-11, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, April 28).
• The Laredo, Texas, native also sports seven wins and a 1.11 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 43 of 44 games so far. He has notched 51 hits, 37 runs and 46 RBI; he has a .323 batting average. 
• Smith has also tallied 11 home runs and 11 doubles for a .601 slugging percentage. He has amassed 10 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 .351 overall batting average. He has played in 39 games for the Cardinals, contributing 53 hits, 30 runs and 33 RBI.
• He has amassed 14 doubles, two triples and nine home runs for a .649 slugging percentage.
• Flores has recorded 15 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 53 stolen bases this season, third in the SLC.

 
TAKE ONE FOR THE TEAM

• The Cardinals have amassed 28 sacrifice flies, 12th in the nation.
• Antonio Valdez leads the team with six sacrifice flies -- second in the conference and 13th 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 101 doubles, 19 triples, 44 home runs, 28 sacrifice flies, 313 runs and 289 RBI.
• The Cardinals have a .310 batting average, a .399 on-base percentage and a .487 slugging percentage, all tops in the conference.
• The Cardinals are second in the conference with 475 hits.
• UIW is third in the conference with 53 stolen bases, a .975 fielding percentage and a 3.84 ERA.

 
IN THE NATION

• The Cardinals have amassed 28 sacrifice flies, good for 12th in the nation. 
• UIW is 10th in the nation with a .310 batting average.
• The Cardinals have 19 triples, good for ninth in the nation. 
• UIW is No. 11 in the nation with 101 doubles.
• Bernie Martinez is fifth in the nation with a 1.11 ERA 
• Martinez and Luke Taggart are No. 18 in the nation with seven wins.
• Antonio Valdez is 13th in the nation with six sacrifice flies.
• Eddy Gonzalez is the second toughest batter to strike out in the nation with an 17.3 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 face crosstown rival UTSA on Tuesday. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. (CT) at Roadrunner 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.