SAN ANTONIO – The University of the Incarnate Word baseball team opened the 2026 season with an 8–3 victory over the University of Illinois Chicago on Friday afternoon at Sullivan Field.

UIW (1-0) scored in four different innings and used three home runs to secure the season-opening win.

Tony DeJesus led the Cardinals offensively, going 3-for-4 with two home runs, three RBI and three runs scored. DeJesus put UIW on the board in the first inning with a two-run homer to deep center, scoring Cole Tabor for an early 2–0 lead.

The Cardinals extended the advantage in the fourth inning. After DeJesus singled and stole second and Jake Weaver drew a walk, Colin Cymbalista singled to load the bases. Cris Enriquez lifted a sacrifice fly to right to plate DeJesus, and Trent Rucker followed with a sacrifice fly to push the lead to 4–0.

Weaver added a solo home run down the right field line in the sixth inning to make it 5–0.

UIC responded in the eighth, scoring three runs behind a two-run double from Thomas Curry to cut the deficit to 5–3. UIW answered immediately in the bottom half of the inning. DeJesus led off with his second home run of the game, and Cymbalista followed later in the frame with a two-run shot to left center to extend the lead to 8–3.

On the mound, Zac Colletti earned the win after throwing five scoreless innings, allowing two hits with three strikeouts. Landon Fuller delivered a scoreless sixth inning, and Fawster Voytko closed the final two innings to record the save.

UIW finished with eight runs on eight hits and did not commit an error, while UIC totaled six hits in the contest.

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--UIW CARDINALS--