EDINBURG, Texas – The University of the Incarnate Word baseball team dropped a 7-5 conference loss on the road to the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley tonight. UIW falls to 18-26 and 8-18 in the Southland, while UTRGV improved to 23-25 and 16-13.
Down 2-1 after the first, the Cardinals in the top of the third took the lead as they pushed four runs across. It started when
Trent Rucker doubled to right-center and then advanced to third when
Preston Newberry dropped down a bunt single. UIW loaded the bases when
Cole Tabor walked on four straight pitches. Following a mound visit,
Drake Anderson hit into a fielder's choice to keep the bases loaded, but Tabor was thrown out at home on the play. The Cardinals took the lead when
Christian Enriquez singled to first to score both Newberry and Tabor to make it 3-2. UTRGV was able to get
Colin Cymbalista to fly out for the first out, but Enriquez, on the next play, stole second to move into scoring position. He and Anderson later came around to score when
Tony DeJesus dropped a two-run single into shallow center field to push the lead to 5-2.
UTRGV in the bottom of the sixth retook the lead when it pushed four runs across on four hits to go up 6-5. They would later add a run in the bottom of the eighth off an RBI single to go up 7-5 and hold on for the win.
Starting
Gus McKay allowed two runs on seven hits over five innings of work. He struck out three in the process. Reliever
Jose Bludau took the loss, dropping to 2-1. He allowed two runs on two hits over two innings.
DeJesus and Cymbalista each tallied two hits to lead UIW. DeJesus recorded a pair of RBIs.
Enriquez finished the night going 1-for-4 with a run scored and a team-high three RBIs.
Rucker, Anderson, Tabor, and Newberry each finished a hit.
The Cardinals are back in action tomorrow for the final game of the series at 1 p.m.
