YOUNGSVILLE, La. – The University of the Incarnate Word softball team will leave the friendly confines of H-E-B Field for the first time this season Friday as the Cardinals participate in the Mardi Gras Mambo, hosted by Southeastern Louisiana. There are 13 teams participating in the invitational over the course of three days, starting at 3 p.m. Friday and running through Sunday afternoon. .
.400 CLUB
The Cardinals have three hitters hitting over .400 through the first nine games of the season. Sophomore Renee Hoffman leads UIW with a .500 batting average, which is good for sixth in the Southland Conference. Freshmen Abby Frank and Kendall McGary are just behind Hoffman, batting .450 and .433, respectively. Frank is ranked No. 9 in the conference with McGary at No. 15. Frank also is second in the conference in on-base percentage at .621.
IMPROVED PLAY
Through the first nine games, the team already has accumulated 50 percent of the win total from the 2019 season. Returning players have stepped up to lead the young Cardinals team with Hoffman contributing both at the plate and in the circle. Junior Hailey Goins is batting .357 with three doubles and junior Teanna Lucio is hitting over .300 at .320. Redshirt junior Jaylin Olivares is batting .333 through her first five games of action.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
- Alcorn State, 3 p.m. Friday and 12 p.m. Sunday – The Lady Braves enter the Mardi Gras Mambo with a 4-5 record but have yet to secure a victory over a Division-I opponent. UIW has won both matchups against the ASU.
- Jacksonville State, 5 p.m. Saturday – So far in 2020, the Gamecocks are 3-5 with wins against Charleston and Delaware State.
- Louisiana, 7 p.m. Saturday – The Warhawks enter the invitational with a 3-7 record with wins against Southern and TAMU-CC.
- Mississippi Valley State, 5 p.m. Friday – MVSU is 1-3 in the early season with their lone win coming against Saint Louis.
STAY TUNED
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.
The UIW softball team is on Twitter at @UIWSoftball and Instagram at @uiwsoftball.
