SAN ANTONIO, Texas — A pair of two-out home runs and an error in the bottom of the first staked Incarnate Word to a 3-0 lead over the Lady Storm Thursday evening and St. Mary’s added a run in the second for a 4-1 victory.

Audra Rhudy went the distance for coach Ron Faubion’s club, now 1-2, scattering six hits, striking out four and walking an uncharacteristic four while blanking the Cardinals over the last four innings. Rhudy is now 1-2 on the year. Only two of UIW’s four runs were earned.

The LadyStorm managed only two hits, but left the bases loaded in the fifth after stranding two in the fourth to miss scoring opportunities.

Three-hole hitter Sam Vrska accounted for Southeastern’s run with her first home run of the year, a solo shot with one out in the fourth. She drew a walk in the fifth. Cleanup hitter Katie Campbell singled behind Vrska’s homer, but was left stranded.

Coach Faubion said, “We just didn’t hit the ball well. Only two hits and leaving seven on base will lead to losses most of the time. Katie was robbed of her second hit when the shortstop made a diving catch on her line drive that would have scored at least one run. The Storm left runners aboard in four of the seven innings and struck out eight times while drawing six free passes.

UIW’s Whitney Waltrip (2-0) pitched the first five innings and got the win, giving up two earned runs on two hits, walking five and striking out three. Ace Briana Sanchez came on for the last two frames and slammed the door, allowing only one walk while recording five whiffs in the last six outs. The Cardinals improved to 3-0 overall.

Southeastern was scheduled to play Texas A&M-Kingsville and Southern Nazarene today in the Kingsville Tournament. Saturday’s opponents are Tarleton State, Southern Arkansas and Midwestern State.

Weather permitting, of course.

Incarnate Word 4 - LadyStorm 1

The first five Storm hitters went out in order before Rhudy reached on a two-out walk in the second.

Lea Padilla drilled a two-homer in the bottom of the first, followed by an infield error that would have retired the side. Instead, Melanie Padilla hammered a two-run roundtripper to make it 3-zip. It was the first home run of the year for each Padilla.

Southeastern’s hits came in the fourth on back-to-back blows by Vrska and Campbell. Campbell was robbed in the fifth and Lauren Renneker lined to shortstop to open the sixth.

Vrska was one for two and Campbell one for three to lead the Storm.

Six players had one hit each for St. Mary’s.