NEW ORLEANS – Nixon Brannan belted a solo home run over the left center wall in the top of the tenth inning to lift the University of the Incarnate Word baseball team to a 9-8 victory over the University of New Orleans (UNO) on Saturday afternoon at Maestri Field.

Down four in the final frame, UIW's Hernan Yanez scored off a Privateer error before Ridge Rogers belted a three-RBI homer to level the game, 8-8, and force extra innings.

Rogers and Grant Smith each finished the game with three hits and three RBIs.

Neither team scored through the first three innings, but a Privateer two-RBI home run followed by an RBI triple gave UNO a 3-0 lead in the fourth frame. 

In the sixth, UIW tied the game with a two-RBI homer from Smith and an RBI double from Alec Carr (3-3). 

UNO scored four runs in the seventh inning to jump to a 7-3 advantage, but Grant Smith singled out to center field in the eighth to plate Rogers and cut the Privateers' lead (7-4).

UNO scored once more in the bottom of the eighth to extend its edge to 8-4 before UIW knotted the game in the top of the ninth inning. Brannan's homer sealed the win as the Cardinals tied the series, 1-1. 

UP NEXT
The rubber match is set for 1 p.m. CT on Sunday, May 8, at Maestri Field. 

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.
 

--UIW CARDINALS--