DENTON, Texas – The opening weekend of the 2021 season wasn't as kind to the University of the Incarnate Word softball team as they had hoped, dropping the first four games at the North Texas Invitational. In the first game, the Cardinals fell, 5-1, to Tarleton State. The second game ended in five innings as UIW fell to North Texas by a score of 9-0. UIW's offense couldn't complete the comeback and fell to North Texas, 5-0, Saturday morning. Saturday afternoon in the rematch with Tarleton State, the Cardinals were not able to muster a comeback in a 9-2 tilt for the Texans. 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1 vs. Tarleton State
UIW struck first in the top of the second on a couple of strung together singles from the Cardinals offense.  
Senior 
Teanna Lucio singled through the left side to score sophomore 
Hailey Jackson. It was the Cardinals only RBI on the day.  
 
The Texans rallied in the bottom of the fourth with back-to-back home runs to put Tarleton State up by three heading into the top of the fifth inning. Another homerun in the bottom of the fifth would make the score 5-1.  
Although the Cardinals made a little noise in the top of the seventh with bases loaded and only one out, they were not able to finish the comeback and fell, 5-2, to the Texans. 
 
Game 2 vs. UNT
The Cardinals were unable to get the offense going in the second game of the day against the Mean Green as they fell, 9-0, in five innings. 
Hailey Jackson, 
Teanna Lucio, and 
Savannah Behabetz were the only Cardinals to register a hit.  
 
Game 3 vs. UNT 
UIW struggled early offensively, failing to get a runner on base until the top of the 4
th inning when 
Hailey Jackson was hit by a pitch. 
Natalie Myers threw a complete game, allowing three earned runs and striking out four.  
 
Game 4 vs. Tarleton State 
The Texans scored first in the top of the second inning, scoring three runs off five singles. UIW answered in the bottom of the third inning with a two-RBI double from Behabetz that scored 
Maddie Boldt and Jackson. Tarleton State rallied in the top of the seventh inning to go ahead, 9-2, which was all the Texans needed.  
UP NEXT
UIW will host the University of Houston-Victoria in a two-game midweek double header on Tuesday, March 2
nd. The game will start at 2:00 p.m. with the second game following 30 minutes about the completion of game one. 
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.