SAN ANTONIO, Texas - The University of the Incarnate Word baseball team dropped the first game of the three-game series 8-4 to conference foe Nicholls State University this afternoon at Sullivan Field sponsored by H.E.B. The Cardinals are now 12-10 overall and 4-6 in the conference, while the Colonels improve to 12-12 and 4-5 in the Southland.

Trailing 3-0 going into the bottom of the third, the Cardinals were able to push three runs across on a pair of hits. Thomas Lyssy got things rolling when he was hit by a pitch.  He later moved to second off an error by the shortstop on Trent Rucker's fielder's choice, which allowed him to reach first. Lyssy and Rucker later executed a double steal to move into scoring position. Both runners later scored off Preston Newberry's double to left center to cut the lead to 3-2. 

Following the first out of the inning, Newberry took third on Tony DeJesus's groundout to the shortstop. He later scored off Jake Weaver's RBI single through the right side to tie the game at three before the inning ended.

Nicholls in the fifth broke the tie when it plated four runs on four hits to take a 7-3 lead.

In the bottom of the fifth, UIW was able to get one of the runs back when Weaver singled home Cole Tabor from second with two down to cut the lead to 7-4.

The Colonels made it 8-4 with two outs in the top of the eighth to go back up by four runs, and their bullpen set the next six hitters down to secure the win.

Starting pitcher Zac Colletti fell to 2-1 on the season after allowing five runs on four hits over four and two-thirds of an inning. Relievers Jordan Bush and Braelin Pillot each pitched scoreless innings, allowing just a hit and a walk, and combined for four strikeouts in two innings of work.

Weaver led UIW at the plate as he was 3-for-4 with two RBIs for the game. Teammate Newberry finished the day going 1-for-2 with a double, two RBIs, and a run scored.

Tabor, Cris Enriquez, and Drake Anderson each tallied a hit of their own.

UIW is back in action tomorrow for game two of the series against Nicholls at 2 p.m. CT. The game can be seen on ESPN+.