SUGARLAND, Texas -- The University of the Incarnate Word baseball team used a walk-off single by Michael Garza to secure a 3-2 victory against Sam Houston State on Thursday afternoon at Constellation Field.
 
With a full count, one out, and Shea Gutierrez on second, Garza stepped up to the plate and smacked a single down the right field line, bringing home Gutierrez to give the Cardinals their first Southland Conference Tournament win in program history.
 
NOTABLES

• Gutierrez led the Cardinals, going 3-for-4 with a double and the winning run.
• Bernie Martinez allowed only two runs while striking out for batters in 8.2 innings pitched.
• Tyler Miller (7-3) earned the win, pitching 0.1 innings.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Bearkats opened scoring in the bottom of the first, plating a run to take a 1-0 lead. After a pair of scoreless innings, the Cardinals responded in the bottom of the fourth when Ryan Gonzalez scored on a wild pitch to tie the game at 1-1.
 
UIW took the lead in the bottom of the fifth. Garza scored on an Eddy Gonzalez double to take the 2-1 lead, but the Bearkats answered in the top of the eighth to tie the game at 2-2.
 
UIW completed the 3-2 walk off win when Shea Gutierrez opened the bottom of the ninth with a single, stole second, and was then driven in with Garza's RBI single. 
 
RECORDS UPDATE
UIW: 36-21
SHSU: 31-25
 
UP NEXT
The Cardinals face the loser of McNeese-Texas A&M Corpus Christi at noon (CT) on Friday at Constellation Field.
 
FOLLOW ALONG
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