SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The University of the Incarnate Word baseball team snapped a two-game skid with a 13-1 run-rule victory over visiting Abilene Christian University this afternoon at Sullivan Field sponsored by H.E.B. The Cardinals are back over .500 at 9-8, while the Wildcats drop to 8-9.

The Cardinals grabbed an early lead in the bottom of the first. It all started when Preston Newberry walked and later moved to second on a throwing error by the second baseman that allowed Cole Tabor to reach first.  Newberry scored off Tony DeJesus's RBI single through the left side of the infield to make it 1-0.

In the bottom of the second, UIW increased its lead to 5-0 as it plated four runs on three hits. Cris Enriquez dropped a single into shallow center field and then moved to second when Ryder Hernandez singled to right. Following a strikeout, Newberry walked to load the bases full of Cardinals. Tabor kept the inning going with an RBI walk that scored Enriquez to make it 2-0 and keep the bases loaded.

Hoping to get out of the inning without allowing any more runs, the Wildcats made the call to the bullpen. DeJesus tallied his second RBI of the game on a groundout to second, which allowed Hernandez to score and send Newberry to third and Tabor to second. Leading 3-0 with two down, Jake Weaver extended his hitting streak to eight games with a two-run single to center to make it 5-0 before the inning ended.
UIW added three runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth to take an 11-0 lead headed into the top of the sixth.

Abilene Christian got on the board in the sixth when the leadoff hitter doubled down the left field line and moved to third off a flyout to right. He later scored on a passed ball to cut the lead to 11-1.

The Cardinals in their half of the sixth added to their lead when Drake Anderson scored pinch runner Ryan Martinez from second off an RBI double. Anderson took third off a groundout to second and then scored off Hernandez's sacrifice fly to right to push the lead to 13-1.

Looking to close the game out in the top of the seventh, Cardinal reliever Landon Fuller used 10 pitches to record the final three outs and secure the run-rule victory.

Reliever Gus McKay picked up his first win of the season to move 1-1. He did not allow a runner to reach bases in two innings of work, while striking out two.

Starting pitcher Emir Encalada allowed two hits, a walk, and struck out three in three innings.

Nine different UIW players recorded a hit, with Enriquez pacing the team with two hits, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

Weaver, who has had a hot bat in his last eight games, finished the day going 1-for-3 with four RBIs.

Tabor, DeJesus, and Hernandez combined to go 3-for-6 with six RBIs and five runs scored.

Incarnate Word travels to New Orleans this weekend to open a Southland Conference three-game series with the University of New Orleans. Game one on Friday starts at 6:30 p.m. and can be seen on ESPN+.