SAN ANTONIO – The University of the Incarnate Word softball team completed a Southland Conference series sweep on Friday, defeating Houston Christian University by scores of 8-0 (6 inn.) and 12-0 (5 inn.) in a weather-delayed doubleheader from Cardinals Field.

Incarnate Word moves its overall record to 25-14 with a 10-5 record in Southland play, while Houston Christian falls to 5-30 on the year with a 2-13 League mark.

HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME ONE)

• Incarnate Word struck early with a three-run first inning as junior Jaisy Caceres hit a three-run blast deep to center field to put UIW ahead 3-0.
• In the fifth inning, the Cardinals added four more runs to their total for a 7-0 lead. Senior Victoria Altamirano and junior Bryanna Fuentes led off the inning with back-to-back singles before Caceres added another RBI to her total with a run-scoring single.
• A sac fly from junior Erin Perez brought another run across the plate before senior Madison Dorrow hit an RBI single of her own to bring two runs home.
• Altamirano led off the sixth inning with a solo home run for the unconventional walk-off to end the game via run rule.

HOW IT HAPPENED (GAME TWO)

• The Cardinals carried momentum over into the series finale, opening up an 8-0 lead with an eight-run second inning.
• Juniors Jasmine Contreras and Ayla Gonzales each had RBI singles in the second frame, and Fuentes hit a bases loaded RBI double to score three runs.
• Junior Sydney Zenon provided the biggest play of the second inning, blasting a three-run home run over the fence.
• Incarnate Word added four more runs to its total in the third, as Fuentes, Caceres, and Dorrow each drove in a run, and sophomore Prisais Quintero added a home run to her total with a solo shot to lead off the inning.
• Houston Christian went hitless across the fourth and fifth innings to end the game via run rule once again.

NOTES

• Junior Ava Hernandez (4-2) collected the win after going five scoreless innings in the circle, allowing just three hits with a season-high six strikeouts in game one.
• Sophomore Jenny Robledo made her 18 appearance of the season in the first game of the day, striking out two in one inning of relief.
• Senior Samantha Portillo (4-2) earned the win in game two, allowing just two hits in three innings with four strikeouts, while fellow seniors Elly Eckrich and Bella Mitchell combined for two no-hit innings of relief.
• Altamirano finished 5-for-6 across the two games, including a home run, an RBI, and four runs.
• Fuentes was 4-for-6 on the day with a double, two runs and four RBI, while Caceres had three hits, including a home run, with five RBI, and three runs scored.
• Dorrow had a 4-for-5 day at the plate with two doubles, three RBI and a run scored.
• In game two, Zenon was 2-for-3 with a home run, two runs, and three RBI.

UP NEXT
Incarnate Word goes on the road next weekend for a three-game SLC series against Northwestern State University on April 10-11 in Natchitoches, Louisiana.