SAN ANTONIO – The University of the Incarnate Word baseball team hits the road for another four-game Southland Conference matchup at McNeese starting Friday, April 9, at 4 p.m. (CT). UIW is coming off a 12-1 win against Prairie View A&M and looking to continue the momentum into the weekend.
McNeese is looking to regain momentum after dropping its last two games at Southeastern Louisiana last weekend and falling to LSU in midweek action.
THE GAMES
**Due to the ongoing effects of the hurricanes that affected Lake Charles last fall, video and radio streams will not be available.
LiveStats available
Friday, April 9, 4 p.m. (CT)
Saturday, April 10, 2 p.m. (CT)
Saturday, April 10, 5 p.m. (CT)
Sunday, April 11, 1 p.m. (CT)
UIW QUICK HITS
- UIW placed three on the Southland Conference Preseason All-Conference teams. Ryan Flores earned first-team honors for the second year in a row, while Lee Thomas and Grant Smith were selected for the second team.
- With 192 hits entering the weekend, Thomas needs eight more hits to eclipse the 200 mark for his career and 10 more to break into the program's top-10. Thomas is already sixth in the record book with 24 home runs and 44 doubles, eighth in at-bats (641), RBIs (146), total bases (319) and walks (95) and ninth in games played (183).
- As a first baseman, Flores needs just six more double plays turned to take the program lead as he currently sits second at 85. Flores also ranks third in program history in defensive chances (1,022) and putouts (932).
- The Cardinals are among the nation's top 100 programs in doubles (98th, 41), on-base percentage (96th, .372) runs scored (93rd, 150), scoring average (81st, 6.5) and triples (7th, 11) this season.
- Jordan McFarland and Thomas lead the team with four home runs as Flores, Smith, Wilson Ehrhardt and Ron Brown each has two.
- The Cardinals' pitching staff has a combined 5.65 ERA with an opponent batting average of .268 entering the weekend.
- Michael McElmeel (1.93) and Drew Minter (2.45) lead the staff with an ERA under three.
- Michael Garza leads the UIW pitching staff, and eighth in the conference with 37 strikeouts. Garza also leads the conference with 21 backward-Ks this season.
HISTORY vs. McNEESE
- UIW is 4-10 all-time against McNeese since joining the Southland Conference. The Cardinals have dropped the last two outings but have won four of the last six meetings including three in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
SCOUTING THE COWBOYS
- McNeese is 14-14 overall and 8-7 in league play, sitting in seventh in the SLC standings.
- The Cowboys have a team batting average of .275 entering the weekend. Tre Obregon leads the offense and second in the conference with a .403 batting average.
- Clayton Rasbeary is ranked third in the Southland Conference in hitting (.368), first in total hits (42) and doubles (11), second in triples (3) and sixth in home runs (4) this season.
- Rasbeary, Nate Fisbeck (.308) and Payton Harden (.304) are all hitting above .300 this season for the Cowboys.
- McNeese's pitching has a 5.30 ERA and limits opponents to a .243 batting average.
ON DECK
The Cardinals and Cowboys continue the four-game set with a doubleheader starting at 2 p.m. (CT) on Saturday, April 10, at Joe Miller Ballpark.
FAN INVOLVEMENT
Join Cardinals Club today! Email UIW Baseball Director of Operations, Maddy Jordan (majorda1@uiwtx.edu) for more information.
FOLLOW ALONG
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.
Follow the team on Twitter and on Instagram @UIWbaseball.
