SAN ANTONIO – The University of the Incarnate Word baseball team capped off the 2022 season with a 21-31 record, going 16-8 at Sullivan Field, sponsored by H-E-B.
 
UIW earned big wins throughout the season, knocking down No. 20 Texas State University, 4-2, on March 22 and making Baylor (8-7) and TCU (11-7, 11 innings) battle in close games. In SLC play, UIW swept Northwestern State University and secured a 2-1 series victory over Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.
 
Entering the Southland Conference Tournament as the No. 8 seed, the Cardinals defeated No. 4 Nicholls State University and No. 5 Northwestern State to meet No. 1 McNeese State University in the semifinal round.
 
SLC Rankings
The UIW pitching staff finished the season first in the SLC in batters struck out looking with 126 and second in batters struck out with 455. As a team, UIW finished second in the SLC for assists with 499 and third in slugging percentage (.439), doubles (98), triples (17) and total bases (795).
 
Michael Garza led the SLC with 81 batters struck out and was second in batters struck out looking (21).  
 
Cardinals in the Record Books

• Ridge Rogers, an all-defensive team selection, topped UIW's career record book in his final season. He finished number one in the Division I era for games started (204), at bats (765) and games played (215), while tying for triples (10). Rogers was second in runs scored (138), hits (223), doubles (35), RBIs (106), total bases (305) and walks (96). Lastly, Rogers finished third for stolen bases (39) and putouts (528).
• First team utility player Alec Carr and first team shortstop Grant Smith are tied for first in highest stolen base percentage at .929 through 10 attempts. Smith is also second in home runs (16) and third in assists with 322 in his career, while topping the season records with 142 in the 2022 season.
• Selected to the SLC third team, designated hitter Wilson Ehrhardt is tied with Smith for home runs (16); he is also second for intentional walks with three.
• A starting pitcher, Garza is second in most strikeouts per a nine-inning game with 9.37 through 172 innings pitched. Garza is also third in strikeouts looking with 55. He tops the season records with 88 strikeouts this past season.
• Senior Aaron Celestino has 15 wins under his belt for the second most wins.
• Relief pitcher Steve Hayward broke his previous single season record for most strikeouts per a nine-inning game with 12.88 to move up to second place.
• Catcher Hernan Yanez is second for most putouts in a season with 416.

 
FOLLOW ALONG
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