Courtesy photo

In Game 1, the Cardinals were shut out, 4-0, before being defeated 5-1 in Game 2.

In the opening game, UIW was held to only one hit, dropped by Cece Duron, as Melissa Perez took her third consecutive loss after pitching her seventh complete game of the season. Perez gave up eight hits and two walks while striking out four.

The Cards were able to rack up four hits in the nightcap, with Allie Britt, Corrie Gonzales, Rachel Hughes and Perez all grabbing one apiece. Pinch runner Serena Smitham would score UIW’s lone run off of Gonzales’ hit in the sixth inning.

Hughes made her ninth start from the circle and lasted only 3.1 innings in her third loss of the year. She allowed eight hits and five runs. Amanda Sparks and JudyAnn Gonzales pitched 2.2 innings of scoreless relief in the outing.

The Cardinals return to the field Friday as they continue Heartland Conference action, hosting Oklahoma Panhandle State in a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.