General

Sparks weaves 2-hitter to lead Incarnate Word past MSU, 3-1

10 May 2006
1 min read

Sparks 2-hits Midwestern State; Incarnate Word wins, 3-1

WICHITA FALLS, Texas - Incarnate Word's Patty Madera went 3-for-3 with a two-run home run to lead the Cardinals past No. 6 Midwestern State 3-1 in the opening round of the NCAA Division II at Skip Brown Field.

Madera

's blast came after a Stephanie Flores walk in the sixth inning, an inning after Cece Duron broke a scoreless tie with a shot over the center-field fence.

"I didn't think there was anything wrong with the pitches (MSU starter Brittany Willson) threw," MSU coach Brady Tigert said. "They just got the barrel in the right spot."

Willson, the Division II win's leader, allowed eight hits, walked one and struck out seven to fall to 29-9.

Racheal Jackson connected for her ninth homer of the season in the bottom of the sixth, but that was all the Mustangs could muster against Incarnate Word freshman Amanda Sparks.

Sparks allowed just two hits, struck out six and walked three to improve to 20-9 on the season.

"We weren't very disciplined at the plate and chased a lot of pitches," Tigert said. "We were very anxious in trying to make things happen and it backfired on us."

Incarnate Word (44-17) moves on to play St. Mary's - a 10-1 winner over

Southeastern Oklahoma-

in the winner's bracket Friday at 6:30 p.m.

The Mustangs (44-13) will face

Southeastern Oklahoma

in an elimination game at 1:30 p.m.

"We've got to stay disciplined and not press," Tigert said. "If we can do that, we can do what we're capable of."

+++ MSU +++