SAN ANTONIO – The University of the Incarnate Word baseball team wrapped up a series sweep of Texas Southern with a 13-5 win on Sunday afternoon, at Sullivan Field, sponsored by H-E-B. The Cardinals scored 41 combined runs to post their second opening series sweep in as many years under second-year head coach, Ryan Shotzberger.
UIW scored in each of the first three innings to build a comfortable 8-2 lead. The Tigers tacked on two runs in the fourth, but a three-run fifth inning for the Cardinals sealed the series sweep.
Ryan Flores continued to swing the hot bat, going 3-for-4 with four RBIs on 2 doubles and a two-run home run in the first inning. The first black and red homer of the season. Flores went 7-for-12 (.583) at the plate with three doubles, a home run, 11 RBIs and five runs scored over the weekend.
Wilson Ehrhardt got the Cardinals going with a leadoff triple in the bottom of the first inning, Jordan McFarland hit a sharp liner to the second baseman before Flores lifted a shot over the right center field wall to take a 2-1 lead. Lee Thomas hustled around the bases for a two-out triple and scored on a Grant Smith double for the 3-1 lead after one inning of play.
TSU scratched across a run in the second inning after two walks and a two-out single. The Cardinals countered with two runs in the second with an RBI double by Flores to score Zach Limas who walked to start the inning and Trent Koerner scoring from third on a passed ball.
The third inning saw eight Cardinals step in the batter's box with Grant Smith drawing a leadoff walk before Ridge Rogers rocketed a shot over the right-centerfield wall to build a five-run, 7-2, lead. Back-to-back two-out walks from Ehrhardt and McFarland set up another Flores RBI double to score Ehrhardt. Flores' third hit of the game.
TSU (0-7 overall) was only able to add two runs in the top of the fourth and one in the seventh as the Tigers' comeback efforts fell short.
The Cardinals added three more runs in the fifth inning and two in the seventh.
After two quick outs in the bottom of the fifth, McFarland reached on a fielding error and Flores was hit by a pitch that set up a Noah Brewer RBI single to right and Lee Thomas knocked in his second triple down the right-field line to clear the bases.
UIW used five pitchers who combined to scatter five runs on five hits and nine strikeouts with Isaiah Zavala earning the win. Zavala pitched 3.1 innings, with four strikeouts while surrendering just one hit.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Cardinals travel for one game at Texas A&M on Wednesday, March 3 for their first road trip. UIW returns to Sullivan Field on Wednesday, March 10 to take on Houston at 6:30 p.m. CT.
FAN INVOLVEMENT
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FOLLOW ALONG
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