Road Team Ignores History in San Marcos

By Marvin Parker Jr.
Sports Reporter

The 10-17 Cardinals of Incarnate Word looked for their first win against the 21-9 Texas State Bobcats since 1998 at Wednesday night’s softball game.

The top and bottom of the first inning from Bobcat Ballpark mirrored each other. UIW had three ground outs and got one on base. When the Bobcats came out for their introduction to the batting portion, senior Kelli Baker reached second base on a throwing error by UIW. After Baker started things off, junior pitcher Bridget Stein managed to get Corrina Liscano, Ariel Ortiz and Kendall Wiley to each exit and end the inning.

Innings two, three and four were just like the first in terms of no runs, minimal hits and minimal errors. In all three of those innings, there were a combined four hits.

Five was the lucky number for the Cardinals. After four innings of both teams fighting for hits, UIW’s Shelbi Swenson and Danielle Ramirez got on base. Two on base raised concern for the Bobcats and after solid opening innings, junior pitcher Paige Williams for the Bobcats sat with sophomore Randi Rupp coming into the game for a change. Runners on second and third with one out in the fifth fresh off the pitching change junior first base, Alex Alonzo homered off of Rupp’s first batter to turn the scoreless game into a 3-0 lead for the Cardinals. Quincy Charleston came in for Rupp right after the home run. The Bobcats got out of the inning four batters later with 3 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors and 2 left on base for Incarnate Word.

Bottom of the sixth inning is where the Bobcats finally cashed in. Ortiz started off with a double followed by Wiley doing the same, which brought in Ortiz for the first score of the day for Texas State. The bats got going for the Bobcats as sophomore Taylor Webb singled, advanced to second after Lexi Fryar grounded out and Jaelyn Young followed, singled to left where Webb advanced to third and Wiley scored. After a pitching change for Incarnate Word, sophomore Sarah Leah came in for the Cardinal, Bianca Prado reached on a fielder’s choice, but Webb scored.

The score 3-3 going into the top of the seventh.

No runs, no hits, no errors in the top of the seventh. More of the same for Texas State as there were no runs, no hits and no errors as well in the bottom of the seventh forcing extra innings.

After two got on base, first and second, Christy Trevino singled through right, ending up at second. Natali Duron moved to third and Marissa Ruiz scored. Texas State got out of the inning three batters later ending the inning at a 4-3 score in favor of the Cardinal.

Webb singled to the middle and Ortiz ran in the tying score. Two outs and runner on first and third, Prado flied out to right field.

Top of the ninth and the Cardinals reflected back to the fifth inning. With Ramirez and Swenson on base, Alonzo homered off to left field. Paige Williams re-entered the game for Charleston and the Bobcats. After Flores doubled, Duron copied and doubled to then move to third off an error, resulting in a Flores score. Before the inning ended, a wild pitch allowed Duron to run in for the score ending the ninth inning 9-4 in favor of the Cardinal.

Texas State only got in four batters with Prado being the first batter up getting on base, followed up with two pop us and a ground out.

Incarnate Word earned their first win in San Marcos against the Bobcats since 1998 in 9-4 fashion. Texas State falls to 21-10 with Sun Belt Conference games following for the Bobcats this Friday and Saturday against UL Monroe at home in San Marcos.

Featured image by Madison Tyson.