SAN ANTONIO, Texas - The University of the Incarnate Word split a conference doubleheader against Northwestern State University today at Sullivan Field sponsored by H.E.B. The Cardinals took game one 13-9, while coming up short 9-8 in game two.

UIW is now 8-7 and 2-3 in the Southland Conference, while the Demons are 8-7 and 2-3.

Cardinal Preston Newberry finished the day going 6-for-9 with five runs scored, three RBIs, and two doubles.

UIW is back in action tomorrow afternoon for the final game of the series against Northwestern State.

Game 1: Incarnate Word 13, Northwestern St. 9
Northwestern State took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first, but the Cardinals responded in their half of the inning.  Newberry and Jake Weaver singled back-to-back and later moved up 90 feet when Tony DeJesus grounded out to short. Newberry touched home when Cole Tabor grounded out to second. Weaver took third on the play but later came around to score off Colin Cymbalista's RBI triple to center to make it 2-1.

In the bottom of the second, UIW's Ryder Hernandez walked, and Trent Rucker singled to start things off. Following a lineout to short, Weaver cleared the bases with a triple down the right field line to make it 4-1. He then would score off DeJesus's RBI double to shallow right to push the lead to 5-1. The Cardinals did not stop there as Tabor homered to deep center to make it 7-1 before the inning ended.

The Demons added a run in the third to cut the lead 7-2, but UIW answered, pushing a pair of runs across to go up 9-2.

NSU added a run in the fourth and two in the fifth to cut the lead to four after four and a half innings.

UIW in the fifth added three runs to break the game open and push its lead to 12-5.

Both teams added runs in the seventh with NSU pushing three across and UIW adding one to make it 13-8.

The Demons added a run in the eighth to make it 13-9, but that is as close as they came as Fawster Voytko pitched a scoreless ninth for the Cardinals to lock up the win.

Reliever Ashton Perkins picked up his first win (1-0) of the season. He allowed one run on one hit in an inning and two-thirds.

The Cardinals recorded nine extra-base hits (4 doubles, 2 triples, 3 home runs).

Weaver paced both teams in hits with four as he went 4-for-4 with three RBIs, a double, a triple, and three runs scored.

Newberry finished the game going 3-for-4 with three runs scored, a home run, an RBI, and a double. Teammate Rucker tallied a home run while going 2-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBIs.

Game 2: Incarnate Word 8, Northwestern St. 9
Northwestern State once again grabbed the early lead, this time off a two-run home run in the top of the first.

The Cardinals answered in the bottom half when Newberry singled to right and later scored off Weaver's RBI triple to deep center to make it 2-1. Weaver then scored when Cymbalista lifted one to center for a sacrifice fly to tie the game.

UIW in the second took the lead off Drake Anderson's home run deep to left to go in front 3-2. Following a strikeout, Ryder Hernandez singled to left and then moved to second on a passed ball. Rucker kept the inning going when he drew a five-pitch walk to put runners on first and second.  With Newberry coming up for the second time in two innings, he singled down the left field line this time to score Hernandez to push the lead to 4-2 before the frame ended.

The Demons added two runs in the third, a run in the fourth, fifth, and sixth to retake the lead and go up 7-4.

UIW in the bottom of the eighth ended the scoreless drought when it loaded the bases with no outs. Then Newberry drove in Ayden Alsobrooks from third to make it 7-5 off a fielder's choice. Hernandez took third, while Rucker was out at second. Newberry then stole second following a strikeout for the second out. Cymbalista then cleared the bases when he tied the game at seven off a triple into right-center.

With two down and one on in the top of the ninth, the Demons parked a two-run shot over the left field wall to lead 9-7.

Down to their final three outs, UIW's DeJesus walked on five pitches to start things off in the bottom of the ninth. He was then lifted for pinch runner Justin Rumfield. Anderson, sitting on a 3-2 count, was able to drop a double right next to the right field line to put runners on second and third. Rumfield scored off Hernandez's RBI groundout to make it 9-8. Anderson was able to take third to move 90 feet away from home.

With one down, Cris Enriquez chopped one to first with Anderson breaking for home, the Demons threw out Anderson on an extremely close play that went to a coach's challenge. The out call at home would stand for the second out, and a popout to first would end the Cardinals' rally as they fell 9-8.

Reliever Chase Blease took the loss (1-1) for the Cardinals. He allowed two runs on two hits in an inning of work.

Newberry finished the game going 3-for-5 with a double, two RBIs, and two runs scored. Teammate Anderson collected a pair of hits, which were a double and a home run. He scored a run and tallied an RBI.

Cymbalista tallied three RBIs and a triple.