SAN ANTONIO- The University of the Incarnate Word softball team will travel to College Station for a matchup with the nationally ranked Texas A&M team on Wednesday night. In the latest ESPN/ USA Softball rankings, the Aggies are at No. 21. This will be the second time the Cardinals have faced ranked opponents this year.
FOLLOW THE MATCH
THE LAST TIME THEY MET
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They've only faced eachother three times before, but the Cardinals have been unsuccessful in the past matchups. The Aggies hold the record 3-0.
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In the last matchup on April 5, the Cardinals lost 2-10.
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Aaliyah Garcia scored a run and tallied a hit during her three at bats.
Texas A&M (19-11)
Though the Aggies are sitting in ninth place in the latest SEC polls, they've been on a bit of a hot streak. After not being ranked throughout the first few weeks of play, a doubleheader sweep of No. 11 Kentucky put them on the board at No. 21. The Aggies have won three of their last four games.
Junior catcher Julia Cottrill is leading the offense for A&M. After starting 24 of the 25 games she's played, Cottrill is batting a .392 era. In her 19 hits she's had eight doubles, one triple, four home runs and 19 RBIs. Trinity Cannon, a junior infielder, is right behind her batting a .368. The Aggies have eight players batting over .300 this season.
On the pitching end of things, Texas A&M has found their go-to person. Sophomore Emily Leavitt is spotting a 2.61 era with her win-loss record of 6-4. The California native has notched 60 strikeouts in her total of 53.2 innings pitched.
UIW (11-14-1)
UIW is coming off a great weekend at Houston Christian University. After clinching the first SLC series win, the Cardinals are looking to keep their momentum going.
Avalon Sanchez put up some staggering numbers in the two games she played in the series. Averaging .600 on the week, Sanchez was able to bump up her overall average to a .317. She's accumulated 13 hits with three doubles, two home runs, and eight RBIs. Ryleigh Mata, a junior second baseman has been the go-to hitter for UIW. Leading the Cardinals with a .329 average in her 82 at-bats, Mata is showing why she was picked to the SLC Preseason Team. Though you can't mention the Cardinals' offense without freshman Giselle Villarreal. Villarreal has been a consistent player for UIW on both sides of the field. Starting all 24 games, she's batting a .321 with 27 hits and five RBIs. On the defensive side, Villarreal is posting a .959 fielding percentage.
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.
--UIW CARDINALS--
