SAN ANTONIO – After playing nine games in the past 18 days on the road, the University of the Incarnate baseball team returns to Sullivan Field, sponsored by H-E-B for a four-game Southland Conference series against Houston Baptist starting with a doubleheader on Friday at 1 p.m. 

THE GAMES    
(Watch|LiveStats)    
Friday, May 7, 1:00 p.m.    
Friday, May 7, TBA (45 mins. after first game)    
Saturday, May 8, 6:30 p.m.    
Sunday, May 9, 1:00 p.m.    

UIW QUICK HITS    

• The Cardinals are hitting .258 as a team and lead the Southland Conference with 36 home runs. The red and black rank fourth in the league with a .413 slugging percentage.   
• Grant Smith and Lee Thomas lead the Cardinals' offense with 46 hits each. Thomas holds a team-leading .322 batting average, and 33 RBIs as Smith leads the team with 31 runs scored and seven home runs. 
• Four other Cardinals are hitting above .250 this season in Taylor Darden (.292), Ryan Flores (.291), Ridge Rogers (.257) and Ron Brown (.250). 
• UIW's pitching staff holds a 6.20 ERA and a .295 opponent batting average heading into the weekend. 
• The Cardinals have struck out 308 batters as Michael Garza leads the pitching staff with 53 strikeouts in 51 innings. 
• Isaiah Zavala has a team-high five wins and two shutouts in 13 appearances and eight starts on the bump. 
• Steve Hayward holds a team-low .179 opponent batting average with just 12 hits and striking out 27 batters in 20 relief innings. 

HISTORY vs. HOUSTON BAPTIST    
UIW is 4-11 against Houston Baptist since joining the Southland Conference. The Cardinals won the 2019 series, winning the first two games of the three-game set (W 6-3; W 6-4; L 6-8). 

SCOUTING THE HUSKIES    

• HBU (10-30, 7-19 SLC) is 3-7 in its last 10 games against Northwestern State, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Abilene Christian. The Huskies are just 6-20 on the road heading into the series. 
• HBU is second in the conference with 60 stolen bases on 86 attempts. 
• Brennen Bales leads the Huskies' offense with a .339 batting average and a .449 slugging percentage. HBU is hitting a combined .231. 
• Jake Miller holds a team-leading 43 hits, 22 runs scored and six doubles this season. 
• The Huskies' pitching staff boasts a 6.17 ERA and an opponent batting average of .294. 
• Jacob Coats has a team-high 55 1/3 innings pitched with a 2-6 record in 11 starts. He leads the Huskies with 56 strikeouts and has a .271 opponent batting average. 
• Austin Spinney (8), Tyler Zarella (7) and Daxton Tinker (7) are the only pitchers to start more than five games this season. 

ON DECK 
The Cardinals and Huskies continue the series with one game at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday. UIW travels to Baylor on Tuesday, May 11.

FAN INVOLVEMENT 
Join Cardinals Club today! Email UIW Baseball Director of Operations, Maddy Jordan (majorda1@uiwtx.edu) for more information. 

PARKING INFORMATION 
Due to UIW graduation weekend, Friday doubleheader parking will be affected. Baseball fans should use the Highway 281 access road entrance where the UIW Police will be stationed, directing fans to the designated parking areas.

Saturday and Sunday parking for baseball games will not be affected.      

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.