HOUSTON, Texas - The University of the Incarnate Word softball team closed out its weekend with a 7-0 loss to tournament host Houston on Sunday. The Cardinals' record dropped to 8-3 on the season. Despite the setback, UIW managed a pair of wins in Houston over Lafayette and Penn State in an event that also featured Michigan and Pittsburgh.
 
The Cougars loaded the bases with nobody out in the top of the first inning and plated three quick runs on a sacrifice fly and a single. The Cardinals managed their first base runner in the top of the third with a leadoff walk worked by Dominique Guerra, but she was stranded.
 
Houston added two more tallies in the fourth on a two-run home run to go ahead 5-0. UIW picked up its first hit of the contest in the top of the fifth, a one-out single by Erin Perez, but the Cardinals did not manage to drive her in.
 
The Cougars tacked on one more run in both the fifth and sixth innings, both on solo home runs. They then closed out a 7-0 win.
 
UIW (8-3, 0-0) returns to action next weekend in Miami where it will contest a tournament hosted by Florida International beginning on Feb. 20. The Cardinals will start by taking on Florida A&M at 10 a.m. before a 3 p.m. matchup against Eastern Illinois.