ABILENE, Texas – Kayden Cassidy threw a four-hit complete game as Ryan Flores belted a grand slam and Grant Smith's two-run home run powered University of the Incarnate Word baseball team to a great start to its road trip with a 12-1, seven-inning win at Abilene Christian on Friday, April 23.
Cassidy picked up his first win on the season striking out six and allowed just one Wildcat across on a wild pitch in the third inning.
After a scoreless first inning by both sides, the UIW bats were red-hot in the second inning with 11 Cardinals stepping to the plate. Zach Limas started off with a hard-hit double to score Jordan McFarland who walked earlier. Trent Koerner laid down a perfect bunt single to move Limas to third. Smith reached on a fielder's choice as ACU got Ridge Rogers out at second before Lee Thomas ripped a two-run single to score Smith and Koerner.
Wilson Ehrhardt and Taylor Darden continued the second inning with back-to-back walks to load the bases and Flores lifted a 2-2 pitch just over the right field fence to clear the bases with a grand slam to give the Cardinals an 8-0 lead.
In the third inning, Smith hit a two-run homer over the left centerfield fence for the 10-0 lead which scored Rogers who doubled earlier in the inning. McFarland and Limas added two more runs to induce the run-rule pressure in the fourth inning. Darden singled to left field and Flores walked to start the inning before McFarland picked up an RBI single to right field and Limas doubled to drive in Flores for the 12-1 lead.
ON DECK
The Cardinals (14-19, 10-15 SLC) and Wildcats continue the series with a double-header on Saturday with a 2 p.m. start, and one game Sunday before UIW heads to Austin to take on the No. 3 Longhorns Tuesday night.
FAN INVOLVEMENT
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