CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The University of the Incarnate Word baseball team bounced back in a big way on Saturday evening in a 5-0 win over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. It was the team's first conference win of the season and the first Southland victory of head coach Ryan Shotzberger's career.

NOTABLES

• Freshman Isaiah Zavala pitched the best game of his early career as he went a career-long seven innings and had a career-high seven strikeouts. He didn't allow a single run in the start to earn his first career win.
• Drew Minter responded with a big game at the plate as he collected two hits including a solo home run.
• Leadoff man Landon Etzel reached base three times as he went 2-4 with a walk and a run scored.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED
After losing a heartbreaker in the series opener, the Cardinals showed their gritty character as they were led by Zavala on the mound. The Islanders were never able to get into a rhythm against the freshman, as five out of his seven innings were 1-2-3 innings.

The Cardinals struck first in the top of the second. Ryan Flores doubled down the fight field line to lead the attack before Ridge Rogers singled him home.

UIW then exploded in the third inning with three runs on four hits. Etzel tripled to lead off the inning and was driven home on a single by the next batter, Andy Rodriguez. Southland's leading hitter, Lee Thomas, then followed suit with an RBI single of his own to give the Cardinals a 3-0 lead.

Kyle Bergeron added an insurance run with an RBI double to left field to score Thomas from first to increase the lead to 4-0.

While the offense was supplying the scoring, Zavala was pitching lights out and keeping the Islanders off balance. It wasn't until the top of the sixth that Drew Minter added the final run of the game, hitting a deep home run to longest part of the field in center field.

After earning his first career win on Tuesday against Stephen F. Austin, Michael Garza came in for two scoreless innings of relief as he slammed the door shut on any idea of an Islanders' comeback. He struck out three of the six batters he faced.

RECORDS UPDATE
UIW: 9-4
TAMU-CC: 7-8
 
ON DECK
The Cardinals play the rubber match against the Islanders at 1 p.m. (CT) at Chapman Field on Sunday.
 
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