LAKE CHARLES, La. – The University of the Incarnate Word baseball team inched past Nicholls, 9-8, on Saturday afternoon to advance to the semifinal game against No. 1-seeded McNeese State University at Joe Miller Ballpark. The Cardinals fell to the Cowboys, 7-2, on Saturday night to conclude the 2022 season.
 
Game one vs. Nicholls
UIW jumped to a 4-0 edge in the third frame behind a grand slam from Wilson Ehrhardt.
 
A Colonel homer in the fifth followed by four runs in the sixth inning gave Nicholls a 5-4 advantage.
 
In the seventh inning, Ridge Rogers tied the game with an RBI single to right field then reached home off a fielder's choice. Jimmy De Leon plated Alec Carr and Hernan Yanez doubled down the left field line to bring home De Leon and close out the inning with a 9-5 edge.
 
Nicholls scored three runs in the eighth frame, but UIW held off the rally to win the game, 9-8, and advance to the semifinal game, a rematch against top-seeded McNeese.
 
Game two vs. McNeese
The Cardinals struck in the second frame with a sacrifice fly from Yanez (1-0).
 
McNeese scored a run in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings to take a 3-1 lead. UIW cut the Cowboy advantage to 3-2 in the top of the seventh as the McNeese pitching staff walked Daniel Calabrese with the bases loaded to send Roberto Gonzalez home. The Cowboys tacked on another run in the bottom of the inning to take a two-run lead (4-2).
 
McNeese secured three runs in the bottom of the eighth to win the game, 7-2.

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