Softball team makes historic run

July 2, 2024

By Morgan Huizar

LOGOS SPORTSWRITER

Although the University of the Incarnate Word’s softball team fell short Friday, May 10, of winning its first Southland Conference championship, history was made every step of the way.

After going 16-30-1 overall and 8-16 in conference play last season ago, the No. 4 Cardinals came back this year to post a 34-16 overall record and 15-8 conference. The season ended in the championship game with the Cardinals losing 8-7 to No. 2 Southeastern Louisiana University at North Oak Park in Hammond, La.

This was the first year the Cardinals made it to the conference tournament since going Division I. The team recorded its first-ever, post-season win Tuesday, May 7, with a 5-4 victory over No. 5 Lamar University of Beaumont. That was followed Wednesday, May 8, by a 3-2 upset against No. 1 McNeese State University of Lake Charles, La.

The Cardinals’ first loss in the double-elimination tournament came early Thursday, May 9, against No. 2 Southeastern in a 6-1 contest, but the Cardinals came back Thursday evening to qualify for the championship by beating McNeese 8-7.

Improved pitching and hitting were major factors in the team’s historic progress.

Sophomore starting pitcher Samantha Portillo, a graduate of San Antonio’s Sandra Day O’Connor High School, and freshman pitcher Larissa Jacquez from Eagle Pass High School each won 11 games while keeping their earned run averages at 2.52 and 2.46, respectively. Jacquez struck out 129.

The team’s batting average was .312 with Victoria Altamirano, a sophomore from Los Fresnos High School, leading the way at a .444 clip that included top totals in hits (75), home runs (12), and runs batted in (52). Although opposing teams tried to pitch around her, she always seemed to find the ball, including hitting a game-winning, grand slam in the regular season against Nicholls State University.

Overall, players credit UIW’s rapid turnaround to Head Coach Kimberly Dean.

In a statement, the players wrote: “We believe the reason why we are having so much success on the field is because of the connection and bond that we have built off the field with Coach Dean and the hitting coaches. When you can build that type of connection with the coaches, it makes it easier to go out there and have fun and just play because at the end of the day everyone knows that we will give it our all and win games.”