SAN ANTONIO- The University of the Incarnate Word softball team split day two of the Cardinal Classic, losing to a tough Grand Canyon University team and defeating Green Bay for the second time this tournament.   

UIW vs GCU (0-6) 

Madison Floyd, a senior from East Bernard, Texas, took the circle for UIW in her first start of the season. To round out her first game, Floyd pitched four innings only allowing five hits, two walks, and recording a total of four strikeouts.  

It was bit of a slow start for The Word as the Cardinals didn't nab their first hit until the bottom of the third. Kendall McGary stepped up to the plate for her first at bat of the day and singled up the right side. Giselle Villarreal followed right behind her and singled up the middle to put two UIW runners on base. Unfortunately, the Cardinals closed out the third without a run.  

UIW came close many times but just couldn't find the right stride. Ryleigh Mata finished with two hits and a walk to lead UIW. Villarreal also left with two hits in her three total at bats.  

UIW vs EIU (3-2) 

In the tightest game the Cardinals have played so far, a walk off single by Avalon Sanchez sealed the deal for the third win in UIW's book. 

No team scored a single run until the fourth inning of the game, but in back-to-back innings, UIW scored two runs to take the lead over the Panthers. Though Eastern Illinois struck first, the Cardinals had a big answer back, juicing all the bases with one out to go in the fourth. Mata stepped up to the plate with the pressure and brought in Villarreal on a single up the right side.  

Victoria Altamirano stepped up to lead off the Cardinals in the bottom of fifth. After smashing a double towards the right side of center field, two UIW players pushed her up to third to get the Cardinals into scoring position. McGary singled through the right side to bring Altamirano home and make the game 2-1.  

The next few innings were stagnant until the Panthers scored to tie up the game with only one inning left to go. UIW went scoreless in the bottom of the sixth just as EIU went scoreless in the top of the seventh. For the Cardinals, it all came down to their turn in the bottom of the seventh. 

All three of the first trio of batters in the inning jumped on base for UIW. With all three in scoring position and Lemons at third, Avalon Sanchez became the hero of the day for the Cardinals. A walk off single up the right side gave UIW the win against the Panthers for the second time in a row.  

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--UIW CARDINALS--