SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The University of the Incarnate Word slugged its way to a 19-18 win over visiting South Dakota State University this afternoon. The Cardinals moved to 3-2, while the Jackrabbits dropped to 1-4 on the year.

Both teams, over the course of the series, combined for 67 runs, 53 hits, and 22 extra-base hits.

The 30 runs scored by the Cardinals in the two-game series is the most since Feb. 15, 2025, against St. Peter's University (32 runs).

UIW wasted no time getting on the board as it plated seven runs on four hits in the bottom of the first to take a 7-0 lead.

The Jackrabbits got three of the runs back in their half of the second to make it 7-3, but the Cardinals added a run when Cole Tabor dropped a shallow RBI single into right to score Jake Weaver to make it 8-3.

South Dakota State cut the lead in half when it plated a run in the top of the third, but UIW answered in its half when it pushed five runs across. It all started when Ayden Alsobrooks doubled to the gap in right center.  He later moved to third when Kevin Ramos was putout at first. Alsobrooks then scored on a passed ball to make it 9-4.

With bases empty and one out still in the inning, Jake Weaver walked on six pitches and then moved up 90 feet when Tony DeJesus was hit by a pitch. Following the second out of the frame, a passed ball allowed both runners to move up one base. Tabor then drew a four-pitch walk to load the bases before Drake Anderson cleared the bases with a grand slam to push the lead to 13-4 before the inning ended.

The Jackrabbits in the fourth scored six runs and added another four in the fifth to grab a 14-13 lead for their first lead of the game.

After two straight scoreless innings, UIW in the sixth retook the lead with Weaver's three-run home run to deep right field to make it 16-14.

The lead did not last long as South Dakota State pushed four runs across on a pair of hits in the seventh to take a two-run lead.

The Cardinals in their half of the seventh tied the game off Preston Newberry's two-run shot to deep left and then took the lead off of Ramos's solo shot to left to go up 19-18.

South Dakota State threatened with the tying run on third in the top of the ninth but were unable to score as the Cardinals locked up the victory.

Four different UIW players finished with multiple hits, while each Cardinal tallied a hit.

Anderson led the team in RBIs with four as he went 2-for-3 with three runs scored and a home run.

Weaver, Newberry, Cymbalista, and Alsobrooks each drove in three runs.  Weaver finished the game going 2-for-2 with four runs scored, four walks, and a home run.

Reliever Fawster Voytko picked up the win (1-0) as he allowed one hit over two and a thirds inning of work while fanning one.

UIW is back home this weekend when it hosts Prairie View A&M University in a three-game series that starts on Friday at 2:05 p.m.