SAN ANTONIO – The University of the Incarnate Word softball team opened up Southland Conference play with a doubleheader against Nicholls State University on Friday at H-E-B Field. The Cardinals split day one against the Colonels, securing a 4-3 victory in game one but dropping a 9-4 contest in game two.
 
UIW 4, Nicholls 3
Madison Floyd started in the circle for UIW and struck out six Colonel batters. Natalie Myers came in and retired three batters before Ashley Trapp closed out game one with the final strikeout to bring the total to 10 strikeouts from the Cardinal pitchers.
 
Bella Sanchez started UIW off with a perfectly placed hit into shallow right field to register the RBI single that brought in Ryleigh Mata.
 
The Colonels answered, adding a run in the second frame and two more in the third for a 3-1 advantage, but the Cardinals did not stray away from the pressure. UIW began to chip away at the lead with Kendal McGary's RBI single to center field.
 
Down by one, UIW had a strong fifth inning that consisted of an RBI from Savannah Behabetz to tie the game at 3-3. The bats did not let up and McGary tallied her second RBI of the day with a single that brought Behabetz all the way home from second base.
 
The Cardinals had the edge heading into the sixth inning. Nicholls' offense kept its momentum going, tying the game at 4-4 with its second home run of the day.
 
UIW retired Nicholls in the top of the seventh inning. With a runner on base, Behabetz stepped up to the plate. Keeping her composure, she knocked the first pitch thrown to left field and brought in Mata, giving UIW a 5-4 walk-off victory. This is the second walk-off win of the season for the Cardinals.
 
UIW 4, Nicholls 9
The Colonels jumped ahead 2-0 to start the second game of the day. The Cardinals responded with an RBI single from B. Sanchez to cut the lead to one at the end of the first inning.
 
Nicholls scattered four more runs over the fourth and fifth innings to go up, 6-1. UIW did not let up and began to inch back, starting with McGary's third RBI of the day that cut the lead to 6-2. B. Sanchez followed with an RBI double that brought in two more runs for the Cardinals to bring the game to 6-4 in favor of Nicholls.
 
The Colonels plated three more runs in the top of the seventh frame to secure a 9-4 victory.
 
UP NEXT
The Cardinals close out the three-game series against the Colonels on Saturday, March 26, at 12:30 p.m. CT. 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.