SAN ANTONIO- The University of the Incarnate Word softball team got the conference win over Southeastern Louisiana after two walk-offs this weekend. The first coming from an RBI bunt from Aaliyah Garcia late into the bottom of the tenth inning in game one. The series clinching walk-off came in the fifth inning after the Cardinals run-ruled Southeastern on Saturday afternoon.  

Game 1 (3-2) 

In one of the most intense matches of the season UIW grabbed the win after senior, Aaliyah Garia, punched a squeeze play to bring in Kendall McGary. The highly anticipated match went all the way to 10 innings after bats for both teams went on a freeze.  

The Cardinals started off hot with a double to left field from non-other than the player of the game, Garcia. With the two RBI double, UIW went up early 2-0.  

The Demons didn't see their first run scored until the top of the fourth. Quickly enough in the fifth NSU was able to tie the game up and forced the Cardinals' backs against the wall.   

As neither team could score in the next two innings, the game was forced into extras. In the eighth both went scoreless again. Forced to nine, Samantha Portillo was put in to close out the fantastic games pitched by the Cardinals staff. Getting three outs by only facing four batters it was the Cardinals turn at the plate. Again, the game was forced to another inning.  

Portillo nabbed two strikeouts and forced the third batter to hit a pop fly into left field. With the time hitting 11 p.m. UIW had another chance to win the game. McGary walked and Altamirano slammed a much-needed double to put UIW in scoring position. Garcia came to the plate and hit the game winning RBI bunt.  

This was UIW's first win against the Demons since 2018.  

Game 2 (5-9) 

Game 2 started just like the first for the Cardinals but ended the other way around.  

After scoring two runs in the first off a wild pitch, UIW started off hot. As the game went, bats began to run cold.  

The next score for either team didn't come again till the fourth inning. NSU scored one in the fourth to go three back- to- back innings with one run or more. When it came to the bottom of the sixth, UIW found themselves down by seven.  

Altamirano lead off UIW with a single to place herself on base. McGary then walked to put the Cardinals in scoring position as now both were on. Baylee Lemons came up to the plate with two outs on the board. She slammed a single to earn an RBI and bring in Altamirano. Julia Cordon then reached on an error after Lemons and nabbed an RBI as McGary ran in. With Lemons on third and Cordon on first, Ryleigh Mata hit an RBI single for the Cardinals third run of the inning.  

Unfortunately, the sixth inning comeback was not enough for UIW to get the win.  

Game 3 (11-3) 

UIW got their first run rule win of the season after beating Northwestern State in five innings. 

In each of these games the Cardinals started off with the hot hand. Both teams went scoreless in the first, but UIW got the hot hand in the second.  

Scoring eight runs on four hits, the Cardinals set the pace for the game. Lemons hit an RBI single for the first run of the game.  Maddison Guillen walked, and Dominique Guerra did something the Cardinals hadn't seen all season. After reaching on an error by the catcher, Guerra kept running to score an in the park home run using her quick speed to slip through the Demons defense. With the Cardinals already up by four runs, UIW filled second and third base again with one out. The next two runs came off RBI singles by Aaliyah Garcia and Altamirano. A few minutes later, Garcia and McGary scored off a wild pitch by NSU. As the bottom of the second finished 8-0, the Cardinals were on track for a five-inning win. 

In the third, the Demons answered back scoring three runs. The Cardinals also scored two but lost the eight-run lead.  

In the top of the fifth, Madison Floyd went three up three down to hold off the Demons. With UIW knowing they needed one run to end it in the fifth, all focus was on the next three batters. 

Guerra walked and Mata stuck out. Avalon Sanchez went up to the plate and mid at bat, Guerra stole second base. All the Cardinals needed was a base hit while within scoring position. For the second walk off in the series, Avalon Sanchez slammed a double into left field to bring Guerra home. At the end of five, UIW took the game 11-3.  

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