Cardinals knock off Zias

PORTALES — Incarnate Word took advantage of four Eastern New Mexico University errors to score four unearned runs Thursday in a 7-3 Lone Star Conference South Division softball victory at Zia Field.

The Cardinals (27-20, 11-5 South) scored an unearned run in the first and added single runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth for a 4-0 lead.

The Zias (12-37, 2-14) got on the board in the sixth when Paige Colburn walked, Tessa Fiorriti singled to right and Samantha Emms hit an RBI double. But Briana Sanchez (18-9) minimized the damage, giving up a one-out sacrifice fly to Amanda Lale to keep the Cardinals in front 4-2.

Incarnate Word scored three times in the top of the seventh inning with the help of a pair of Zias’ errors to break the game open. Sims added a two-out RBI single in the bottom half, but catcher Tonya Crockett lined out to third to end it with the bases loaded.

Whitney Waltrip went 3-for-4 with a double for Incarnate Word, which outhit the Zias 11-7. Emms finished 2-for-3 while Fiorriti was 2-for-2 and was hit by a pitch for ENMU.

Losing pitcher Erin Roufosse (6-27) allowed eight hits and four runs (two earned) in 5 2/3 innings.

Sanchez (18-9) went the distance for UIW, allowing seven hits while strking out 11 and walking four.