SAN ANTONIO, Texas –
Christian Enriquez's walk-off walk gives the University of the Incarnate Word a 9-8 extra-inning win over conference rival Stephen F. Austin University this afternoon at Sullivan Field, sponsored by H-E-B. The win snaps a nine-game skid for the Cardinals, improving them to 19-28 and 9-20 in the conference. SFA falls to 26-25 and 14-15 on the season.
The Cardinals, in the bottom of the first, wasted no time getting on the board when
Drake Anderson singled to center, then moved to second on
Cole Tabor's single through the right side. Anderson then scored when Enriquez singled up the middle to make it 1-0.
In the bottom of the third,
Preston Newberry and Anderson drew back-to-back walks. Both runners moved up 90 feet off Tabor's sacrifice bunt. Preston later scored to push the lead to 2-0 when Enriquez grounded out up the middle to the shortstop, and Anderson took third on the play. Anderson then scored off
Colin Cymbalista's RBI single to third to give UIW a 3-0 lead before the inning ended.
UIW added a run when Cymbalista drove in Anderson with two outs in the bottom of the fifth, giving the Cardinals a 4-0 lead.
Both teams went scoreless for the next two innings, and in the top of the eighth, SFA plated five runs on six hits to take a 5-4 lead and end a seven-inning scoreless drought.
The Cardinals responded in their half of the eighth, and it started when Cymbalista singled to left center to lead off. He was then lifted for pinch runner
Ryan Martinez.
Jake Weaver's single to right sent Martinez to third to put runners on the corners. Martinez then scored off
Tony DeJesus' RBI single to center to tie the game at five. Weaver took second on the play. The Cardinals loaded the bases when
Kevin Ramos dropped down a bunt single with no outs.
Now with bases loaded, a wild pitch allowed all the runners to move up a base, and with Weaver touching home to put UIW back in front with a 6-5 lead. SFA was able to record the first out with a flyout to right. Newberry was intentionally walked to load the bases to set up a possible double play chance for SFA. The Cardinals pushed the lead to 7-5 when DeJesus scored on Anderson's RBI bunt single, and the bases stayed loaded. UIW added another run off Tabor's sacrifice fly to left center that allowed Ramos to score and make it 8-5 before the inning ended.
The Lumberjacks tied the game at eight in the top of the ninth with a bases-clearing triple to force extra innings.
After a scoreless tenth inning, SFA got a two-out walk and then advanced to third on an error by the pitcher before the side was retired in the top of the eleventh.
Head to the bottom of the twelfth, Ramos walked to start things off and moved to second off Rucker's sacrifice bunt. SFA intentionally walked Newberry to put runners on first and second with one down. SFA was able to get Anderson to fly out to let left field for the second out.
Now with two down and the Cardinals down its final out of the inning, Tabor walked to load the bases. His walk would force a mound visit with Enriquez coming up. Enriquez drew a game-winning RBI walk to score Ramos and give the Cardinals a 9-8 win.
Cardinal starting pitcher
Gus McKay went seven innings, allowing two runs on six hits, while striking out three. Reliever
Matthew Foley picked up his first win of the season to move to 1-2. He went an inning and a third, not allowing a runner to reach base.
Cymbalista led the team at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs.
Anderson finished the game going 2-for-5 with two runs scored, two walks, and an RBI. Teammate Tabor was 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Weaver was 2-for-6 with a run scored.
Enriquez led the team in RBIs with three while tallying a hit and a walk.
Newberry, DeJesus, and Ramos all recorded a hit while combining for five runs scored, an RBI, and five walks.
The Cardinals are back home tomorrow for the final home game of the season when they face Stephen F. Austin at 1 p.m.
