SAN ANTONIO – The University of the Incarnate Word baseball lit up the scoreboard with 16 runs as the Cardinals topped Texas Southern, 16-6, for the second night on Saturday, at Sullivan Field, sponsored by H-E-B.
UIW carried over its offensive production from Friday nights' game, scoring at least two runs in each of the first four innings and two more in the sixth to claim its first series win of the season.
The Cardinals (2-0 overall) rattled off 16 hits behind Ryan Flores' three-hit night which drove in six runs and scored once. Wilson Ehrhardt, Grant Smith, Lee Thomas and Ridge Rogers each registered two hits in the game.
After the Cardinals scored two runs in the first and second inning for a 4-1 lead, the Tigers jumped back out front, 6-4, with a five-run third inning.
TSU (0-6 overall) started the top of the third inning with back-to-back walks off UIW starter Bryson Walker. Jacob Rosales came in for relief but saw just two TSU hitters, surrendering a double that scored Jordan Vidato and walked Nicholas Garza to load the bases. Aaron Celestino came in to try to limit the damage, but the Tigers continued to chip away for five runs on three hits.
UIW regrouped and responded in the home half of the third and fourth inning to build a 14-6 lead. The third inning saw six Cardinals' runs on three hits and a TSU error. Noah Brewer worked for a full-count walk, Thomas singled to left and Smith reached on an error to load the bases. Two walks, an error and two singles tied the game at seven before Flores delivered with a two-out, two-RBI single and Brewer singled in his second at-bat of the inning to score Ehrhardt and give the black and red a 10-6 lead after three.
The Cardinals tacked on four runs in the fourth inning, started by a Smith single. Rogers scored Smith in the next at-bat after a balk and wild pitch put Smith on third. Devon De Leon singled and Ehrhardt walked before Flores knocked in the pair with a two-RBI double down the right-field line.
Michael McElmeel closed the door on TSU, to claim the win on the mound, pitching four scoreless innings and striking out six Tigers after entering in the fifth inning.
UIW added two more runs in the sixth inning on back-to-back RBI hits off the bats of Ehrhardt and Jordan McFarland.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Cardinals wrap up the series against Texas Southern on Sunday, Feb. 28, at 1 p.m. CT. UIW then hits the road for the first time to take on Texas A&M on Wednesday, March 3.
FAN INVOLVEMENT
Click HERE to support the UIW baseball program through Dollars for Dingers and Kash for K's.
FOLLOW ALONG
For the most up-to-date information on UIW Athletics, visit uiwathletics.com, follow the Cardinals on Twitter @UIWAthletics and like UIW Athletics on Facebook.
Follow the team on Twitter and on Instagram @UIWbaseball.
