NACOGDOCHES, TX – The University of the Incarnate Word softball team reached the 20-win plateau for the third straight season with a 4-2 win over Stephen F. Austin on Friday evening in Southland Conference play from SFA Softball Field.

Incarnate Word improves to 20-10 overall with a 5-2 SLC mark, while Stephen F. Austin falls to 17-14 with a 2-5 League record.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Incarnate Word scored the game's first run in the third inning when a sacrifice fly from junior Bryanna Fuentes scored senior Victoria Altamirano from third.
• In the fifth, the Cardinals scored three runs on four hits to build a 4-0 advantage as Altamirano, Fuentes, and junior Jaisy Caceres each had an RBI single in the inning.
• The Lumberjacks plated two runs of their own in the bottom of the fifth to cut the deficit in half, but UIW relievers Emma Follis and Elly Eckrich kept the SFA offense off the scoreboard for the final 2.2 innings of action.

NOTES

• Senior Bella Mitchell (7-3) was credited with the win after allowing just two runs on seven hits with three strikeouts in 4.1 innings in the circle.
• Follis tallied ⅓ of an inning out of the bullpen, while Eckrich tossed 2.1 no-hit innings in her ninth appearance of the year.
• Junior Ayla Gonzales finished 2-for-3 at the plate with a run scored, while Fuentes was 1-for-3 with two RBI.
• Altamirano and Caceres also had an RBI apiece in the contest, and sophomore Prisais Quintero was 1-for-2 with a run scored.

UP NEXT
Incarnate Word and Stephen F. Austin conclude the three-game weekend series with a doubleheader tomorrow afternoon with game one set to begin at 1:00 p.m.