SAN ANTONIO – The University of the Incarnate Word softball team opened their season with five straight wins in the annual UIW invitational.
 
The first day of competition was cut and dry for the Cardinals. The first match up was against Manhattan. In the first two innings the Jaspers and Cardinals matched one another with 3 runs and then four. UIW dominated the final innings of the game ending things in the bottom of the fifth with a 12-4, run rule.
 
The Cardinals followed that up with a dominant 9-0 win over Bradley University. Sam Portillo was the star of the show only allowing two hits and recording seven strikeouts in the shutout.
 
The Cardinals seemed to be in full control once again against Manhattan on Saturday leading 5-2 heading into the fifth inning. However, after giving up four runs in the fifth UIW trailed for the first time in the 2026 season. That was until the bottom of the seventh when the Cardinals proved that day one wasn't a fluke. Jaisy tied the game with an RBI triple to not only tie the game but put the winning runner in scoring position. Howell followed that up with a shot to right field ending the game, 7-6.
 
Things came to the Cardinals in pairs against Bradley on Saturday. In the bottom of the first UIW loaded the bases and had two runs walked in. In the next half inning the Cards got out of a jam with a double play and in the bottom of the second Bryana Funtes singled up the middle to score two runs. The Cardinals took a 4-0 lead into the fourth. Bella Mitchell continued to pitch a shutout until the fifth inning when the Braves finally got on the board cutting the lead in half 4-2. UIW responded right away adding three more runs in the bottom of the fifth. Bradley narrowly cut into the lead but it was too little too late and UIW walked away with its fourth win in two days.
 
In the final game of the UIW Invitational the Cardinals scored in almost any way possible. From singles, to doubles, home runs and even walks, UIW found a way to cross home plate. Elly Eckrich pitched all five innings, allowed just three hits and struck out eight batters, leading the Cardinals to their third run rule victory of the weekend.
 
The Cardinals have a Big12 opponent up next on the schedule when BYU comes to town to take on UIW in the nest.
 
FOLLOW ALONG 
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