LUBBOCK, Texas – The University of the Incarnate Word softball team dropped two heartbreak losses against the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) and Texas Tech University (TTU) on Sunday to close the Red Raider Classic. The Cardinals fell to the Bears 10-9 and the Red Raiders 2-1 at Rocky Johnson Field.

NOTABLES

• Avalon Sanchez knocked her second grand slam of the season in game one against UNC, bringing her total RBIs to 27 on the year.
• Aaliyah Garcia completed six innings without walking a batter.
• Ryleigh Mata had six hits on the day to bring her total to 36 this season.

 
UIW 9, UNC 10
Mata led the way for the Cardinals. She registered three hits in game one, starting with a single to short stop in the top of the first inning. The Bears plated a run first to jump ahead 1-0 in the first inning.
 
UIW rallied to take the lead in the top of the fourth inning with two RBIs from Lauren Olivarri and Mata. A sacrifice fly to center field gave Olivarri her first RBI of the season to tie the game at 1-1. Mata followed with an RBI single to shortstop that brought in Maddie Boldt. A tough bottom half of the inning for the Cardinals gave momentum to the Bears as they took back the edge, 6-2.
 
Boldt knocked a deep hit to left field to bring in Kendall McGary as UIW began to chip away at the UNC advantage. The Cardinal bats continued to spark into the sixth inning where they took back the lead. Mata started the rally with a double to center field to bring in Olivarri. Savannah Behabetz then singled to the short top to bring in Mata. This brought Avalon Sanchez up to the plate with the bases loaded. On the first pitch Sanchez faced, she cleared the bases with a grand slam over the left-field wall.
 
UNC plated one run in the bottom of the sixth to begin its comeback. The Bears secured the 10-9 win with a walk-off single down the left side in the bottom of the seventh inning.

UIW 1, TTU 2
Aaliyah Garcia led the way in the circle, appearing in all six innings. Garcia did not give up a walk against the 28 batters she faced.  
 
Maddison Guillen sparked UIW on both ends, snagging a TTU foul ball for an out and following up with a double down the left-field line. Mata continued the offensive momentum in the top of the fifth inning, hitting a double to the center-field wall. This set up McGary for an RBI double to right field that brought in Mata. Mata scored on a perfect slide at home plate, dodging the catcher's tag.
 
The game reminded tied thanks to Maddie Boldt's grab over the left-field wall to rob the Red Raiders of a two-run home run. TTU was able to secure a walk-off, 2-1 win with an RBI single to left field.

UP NEXT 
UIW prepares for a four-game homestand at H-E-B Field, starting with Texas Southern University on Tuesday, March 22, at 5 p.m. CT. The Cardinals then open Southland Conference play with a three-game series against Nicholls State University on March 25-26. Fans can purchase tickets on the UIW Ticket website. 

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 @UIWSoftball and Instagram @uiwsoftball.