# 2024 Incarnate Word Cardinals baseball team

The 2024 Incarnate Word Cardinals baseball team represented the University of the Incarnate Word during the 2024 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Cardinals played their home games at Sullivan Field and were led by fifth–year head coach Ryan Shotzberger. They are members of the Southland Conference. They compiled a 26–31 overall record and finished with a 10–14 record in conference play in a three–way tie for 6th place. The Cardinals qualified for the SLC tournament as the 8th seeded team. The team had a 1–2 record in tournament play defeating 1st seeded Lamar 6–3 and falling to 5th seeded McNeese 2–6 and Lamar 6–18$^{(7)}$.

## Previous season

The Cardinals had a regular season record of 28–26 and a conference record of 14–10 finishing in second place in SLC play. They participated in the 2023 Southland Conference baseball tournament as the second seeded team. The Cardinals were 0–2 in the conference tournament losing to fifth seeded Northwestern State 1–2 and sixth seeded McNeese 0–3.

## Preseason
### Southland Conference Coaches Poll

The Southland Conference Coaches Poll was released on February 8, 2024. Incarnate Word was picked to finish fourth in the Southland Conference with 81 votes.
Coaches poll :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 1 | Nicholls | 126 (14) |
| 2 | Lamar | 106 (1) |
| 3 | New Orleans | 92 (3) |
| 4 | Incarnate Word | 81 |
| 5 | McNeese | 67 |
| 6 | Texas A&M–Corpus Christi | 55 |
| 7 | Southeastern Louisiana | 53 |
| 8 | Northwestern State | 42 |
| 9 | Houston Christian | 26 |

### Preseason All-Southland team

Ray Mendoza was named to the conference preseason first team. Cameron Crotte, Isaiah Zavala, and Grant Randall were named to the conference preseason second team.

#### First Team

* Edgar Alvarez* (NICH, SR, 1st Base)
* MaCrae Kendrick (NICH, SR, 2nd Base)
* Ethan Ruiz (LU, SR, 3rd Base)
* Parker Coddou* (NICH, SR, Shortstop)
* Miguel Useche (UNO, SR, Catcher)
* Rey Mendoza* (UIW, GR, Designated Hitter)
* Mitchell Sanford* (UNO, RJR, Outfielder)
* Samuel Benjamin* (HCU, SR, Outfielder)
* Issac Williams (UNO, SR, Outfielder)
* Jacob Mayers* (NICH, SO, Starting Pitcher)
* Brooks Caple* (LU, SR, Starting Pitcher)
* Hunter Hesseltine* (LU, JR, Starting Pitcher)
* Gavin Galy* (NICH, RJR, Relief Pitcher)
* Kanin Dodge (LU, SR, Utility)
*-2023 Southland All-Conference Selection

#### Second Team

* Cameron Crotte (UIW, SR, 1st Base)
* Austin Roccaforte (LU, SR, 2nd Base)
* Dylan Mach (UNO, SR, 3rd Base)
* Jake Haze* (SLU, GR, Shortstop)
* Bo Willis (NWST, SR, Catcher)
* River Orsak (LU, SR, Designated Hitter)
* Garrett Felix (NICH, SR, Outfielder)
* Cooper Hext (MCNS, SR, Outfielder)
* Christian Smith-Johnson (TAMUCC, SO, Outfielder)
* Chase Prestwich (NWST, JR, Starting Pitcher)
* Isaiah Zavala (UIW, GR, Starting Pitcher)
* Jacob Ellis (LU, SR, Starting Pitcher)
* Jackson Cleveland (LU, JR, Relief Pitcher)
* Isaiah Zavala (UIW, SR, Utility)
*-2023 Southland All-Conference Selection

## Personnel
### Coaching staff

| Name | Position | Seasons at Incarnate Word | Alma Mater |
| Ryan Shotzberger | Head Coach | 5 | McDaniel College (2004) |
| Greg Evans | Assistant Coach | 5 | Ole Miss (1985) |
| Butch Rea | Assistant Coach | 1 | Northeastern State |
| Andrew Stumph | Volunteer Assistant Coach | 2 | Texas State (2013) |
| Chance Medina | Director of Player Development | 3 | Incarnate Word (2021) |

## Schedule and results

Legend :
| | Incarnate Word win |
| | Incarnate Word loss |
| | Postponement/Cancelation/Suspensions |
| Bold | Incarnate Word team member |
| * | Non-Conference game |
2024 Incarnate Word Cardinals baseball game log :
Regular season (25–29) :
February (7–2) :
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site/stadium Site | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record |
| February 16 | Villanova* | | Sullivan Field San Antonio, TX | 12–7 | Hargett, Hunter (1-0) | Rivera, Devin (0-1) | None | ESPN+ | 215 | 1–0 |
| February 17 | Villanova* | | Sullivan Field San Antonio, TX | 7–6 | Johnson , Dave (1-0) | Mintz, Ryan (0-1) | None | | 144 | 2–0 |
| February 18 | Villanova* | | Sullivan Field San Antonio, TX | 9–6 | Berens, Micah (1-0) | Udell, Cade (0-1) | None | ESPN+ | 92 | 3–0 |
| February 20 | at Texas A&M* | 8 | Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park College Station, TX | 3–9 | Cortez, Chris (1-0) | Johnson , Dave (1-1) | None | None | 4,870 | 3–1 |
| February 21 | UIC* | | Sullivan Field San Antonio, TX | 22–7 (7 inn) | Beck, Dalton (1-0) | Smith, Ryan (0-1) | None | ESPN+ | 53 | 4–1 |
| February 23 | Alcorn State* | | Sullivan Field San Antonio, TX | 14–4 (7 inn) | Salinas, Josh (1-0) | Braziel, Kewan (0-2) | None | ESPN+ | 74 | 5–1 |
| February 24 | Alcorn State* | | Sullivan Field San Antonio, TX | 15–0 (7 inn) | Zavala, Isaiah (1-0) | Guershon, Exi (0-2) | None | ESPN+ | 92 | 6–1 |
| February 25 | Alcorn State* | | Sullivan Field San Antonio, TX | 18–1 (7 inn) | Schlotzhauer, Ryan (1-0) | Chirinos, Andres (0-1) | None | ESPN+ | 94 | 7–1 |
| February 27 | Tarleton State* | | Sullivan Field San Antonio, TX | 10–15 | Garza, Grant (2-0) | Berens, Micah (1-1) | None | ESPN+ | 44 | 7–2 |
March (8–9) :
| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |
| March 1 | at Louisiana–Monroe* | | Lou St. Amant Field Monroe, LA | 5–6 | Orton, Carson (2-0) | Zavala, Isaiah (1-1) | Nobe | | 936 | 7–3 | |
| March 2 | at Louisiana–Monroe* | | Lou St. Amant Field Monroe, LA | 7–4 | Walls, Westin (1-0) | Barlow, Cam (0-1) | None | | 967 | 8–3 | |
| March 3 | at Louisiana–Monroe* | | Lou St. Amant Field Monroe, LA | 1–7 | Lindsay, Trey (1-1) | Byrd, Adam (0-1) | None | | 961 | 8–4 | |
| March 5 | UT Rio Grande Valley* | | Sullivan Field San Antonio, TX | 7–5 | Beck, Dalton (2-0) | Garza, Randy (0-1) | Walls, Westin (1) | ESPN+ | 45 | 9–4 | |
| March 6 | Prairie View A&M* | | Sullivan Field San Antonio, TX | 23–20 | Walls, Westin (2-0) | Victor Mendoza (0-3) | None | ESPN+ | 37 | 10–4 | |
| March 8 | Texas Southern* | | Sullivan Field San Antonio, TX | 11–4 | Berry, Braden (1-0) | Dade Hensley (1-3) | None | ESPN+ | 65 | 11–4 | |
| March 9 | Texas Southern* | | Sullivan Field San Antonio, TX | 6–0 | Zavala, Isaiah (2-1) | Dalton Alford (0-4) | None | ESPN+ | 195 | 12–4 | |
| March 10 | Texas Southern* | | Sullivan Field San Antonio, TX | 11–4 | Johnson , Dave (2-1) | Josiah Castro (0-3) | None | ESPN+ | 162 | 13–4 | |
| March 12 | at Texas* | 23 | UFCU Disch–Falk Field Austin, TX | 1–7 | Fontenot, Grant (1-1) | Beck, Dalton (2-1) | None | | 7,211 | 13–5 | |
| March 19 | at UT Rio Grande Valley* | | UTRGV Baseball Stadium Edinburg, TX | 4–5 | Rodriguez, Nico (2-0) | Walls, Westin (2-1) | None | ESPN+ | 1,612 | 13–6 | |
| March 22 | Texas A&M–Corpus Christi | | Sullivan Field San Antonio, TX | 12–2 (7 inn) | Salinas, Josh (2-0) | Watson, Matthew (1-3) | None | ESPN+ | 103 | 14–6 | 1–0 |
| March 23 | Texas A&M–Corpus Christi | | Sullivan Field San Antonio, TX | 5–11 | Hunsaker, Riley (3-2) | Zavala, Isaiah (2-2) | Hill, Jack (1) | ESPN+ | 144 | 14–7 | 1–1 |
| March 24 | Texas A&M–Corpus Christi | | Sullivan Field San Antonio, TX | 12–14 | Garcia, Zach (2-0) | Walls, Westin (2-2) | None | ESPN+ | 152 | 14–8 | 1–2 |
| March 26 | at Tarleton State* | | Cecil Ballow Baseball Complex Stephenville, TX | 4–8 | Burcham, Jake (1-2) | Smith, Luke (0-1) | None | | 403 | 14–9 | |
| Mar 28 | at New Orleans | | Maestri Field at Privateer Park New Orleans, LA | 2–12 (8 inn) | Mercer, Colton (3-3) | Johnson , Dave (2-2) | None | ESPN+ | 324 | 14–10 | 1–3 |
| Mar 29 | at New Orleans | | Maestri Field at Privateer Park New Orleans, LA | 2–0 | Salinas, Josh (3-0) | Edwards, Grant (2-2) | None | ESPN+ | 308 | 15–10 | 2–3 |
| Mar 30 | at New Orleans | | Maestri Field at Privateer Park New Orleans, LA | 9–10 | Calloway, Bryce (1-1) | Walls, Westin (2-3) | None | ESPN+ | 367 | 15–11 | 2–4 |
April (8–9) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |
| April 2 | UTSA* | Sullivan Field San Antonio, TX | 4–7 | Owens (3-1) | Walls, Westin (2-4) | Riojas (5) | ESPN+ | 88 | 15–12 | |
| April 5 | at Baylor* | Baylor Ballpark Waco, TX | 7–13 | Marriott, Mason (1-3) | Salinas, Josh (3-1) | None | | 1,783 | 15–13 | |
| April 6 | at Baylor* | Baylor Ballpark Waco, TX | 3–15 | McKinney, Collin (3-3) | Zavala, Isaiah (2-3) | None | | 1,837 | 15–14 | |
| April 7 | at Baylor* | Baylor Ballpark Waco, TX | 14–1 (8 inn) | Johnson , Dave (3-2) | Green, Mason (1-4) | None | | 1,667 | 16–14 | |
| April 9 | at Rice* | Reckling Park Houston, TX | 11–5 | Smith, Luke (1-1) | Tyler Hamilton (0-4) | Byrd, Adam (1) | | 1,783 | 17–14 | |
| April 10 | at Southern* | Lee–Hines Field Baton Rouge, LA | – | (-) | Cancelled | | | | – | |
| Apr 12 | at McNeese | Joe Miller Ballpark Lake Charles, LA | 8–6 | Salinas, Josh (4-1) | JT Moeller (2-3) | Rodriguez, Luis (1) | ESPN+ | 945 | 18–14 | 3–4 |
| Apr 13 | at McNeese | Joe Miller Ballpark Lake Charles, LA | 10–3 | Zavala, Isaiah (3-3) | Zach Voss (0-4) | None | ESPN+ | 986 | 19–14 | 4–4 |
| Apr 14 | at McNeese | Joe Miller Ballpark Lake Charles, LA | 10–5 | Johnson , Dave (4-2) | Alexis Gravel (0-2) | None | ESPN+ | 989 | 20–14 | 5–4 |
| April 16 | Texas State* | Sullivan Field San Antonio, TX | 10–8 | McCaffety, Rhett (2-0) | Berens, Micah (1-2) | None | ESPN+ | 105 | 20–15 | |
| Apr 19 | Northwestern State | Sullivan Field San Antonio, TX | 6–3 | Davis, Danny (1-0) | Prestwich, Chase (3-4) | Byrd, Adam (2) | ESPN+ | 75 | 21–15 | 6–4 |
| Apr 20 | Northwestern State | Sullivan Field San Antonio, TX | 10–6 | Zavala, Isaiah (4-3) | Marquez, Alejandro (0-1) | None | ESPN+ | 84 | 22–15 | 7–4 |
| Apr 21 | Northwestern State | Sullivan Field San Antonio, TX | 5–0 | Hargett, Hunter (2-0) | Flowers, Dawson (1-3) | Johnson , Dave (1) | ESPN+ | 94 | 23–15 | 8–4 |
| April 23 | at Texas State* | Bobcat Baseball Stadium San Marcos, TX | 0–10 (7 inn) | Robie, Tony (4-3) | Garcia, EJ (0-1) | None | | 1,777 | 23–16 | |
| Apr 26 | at Lamar | Vincent–Beck Stadium Beaumont, TX | 3–11 | Moseley, Kyle (3-0) | Rodriguez, Luis (0-1) | None | ESPN+ | 1,307 | 23–17 | 8–5 |
| Apr 27 | at Lamar | Vincent–Beck Stadium Beaumont, TX | 2–3 | Cleveland, Jackson (4-0) | Byrd, Adam (0-2) | Perez, Andres (6) | ESPN+ | 1,011 | 23–18 | 8–6 |
| Apr 28 | at Lamar | Vincent–Beck Stadium Beaumont, TX | 2–8 | Hesseltine, Hunter (5-1) | Hargett, Hunter (2-1) | None | ESPN+ | 1,009 | 23–19 | 8–7 |
| Apr 30 | at Prairie View A&M* | John W. Tankersley Field Prairie View, TX | 6–7 | Tyson Carlton (2-3) | Byrd, Adam (0-3) | None | | 72 | 23–20 | |
May (2–9) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |
| May 3 | Nicholls | Sullivan Field San Antonio, TX | 7–6 | Salinas, Josh (5-1) | Mayers, Jacob (3-1) | Byrd, Adam (3) | ESPN+ | 97 | 24–20 | 9–7 |
| May 4 | Nicholls | Sullivan Field San Antonio, TX | 6–7 | Saltaformaggio, Nico (4-4) | Johnson, Dave (4-3) | None | ESPN+ | 115 | 24–21 | 9–8 |
| May 5 | Nicholls | Sullivan Field San Antonio, TX | 7–10 | Desandro, Devin (5-4) | Walls, Westin (2-5) | None | ESPN+ | 117 | 24–22 | 9–9 |
| May 7 | at Abilene Christian* | Crutcher Scott Field Abilene, TX | 5–9 | Palmer, Blaine (2-0) | Urbina, Tomas (0-1) | None | ESPN+ | 337 | 24–23 | |
| May 10 | Southeastern Louisiana | Sullivan Field San Antonio, TX | 0–9 | Stuprich, Brennan (4-3) | Salinas, Josh (5-2) | None | ESPN+ | 113 | 24–24 | 9–10 |
| May 11 | Southeastern Louisiana | Sullivan Field San Antonio, TX | 7–13 | Aspholm, Dalton (2-0) | Zavala, Isaiah (4-4) | None | ESPN+ | 136 | 24–25 | 9–11 |
| May 12 | Southeastern Louisiana | Sullivan Field San Antonio, TX | 11–12 | Polk, Lakin (5-3) | Berens, Micah (1-3) | Robb, Carson (1) | ESPN+ | 153 | 24–26 | 9–12 |
| May 14 | at UTSA* | Roadrunner Field San Antonio, TX | 3–13 (8 inn) | Beaird,Ryan (2-0) | Mendoza, Edward (0-1) | None | | 682 | 24–27 | |
| May 16 | at Houston Christian | Husky Field Houston, TX | 2–4 | Edwards, Parker (5-5) | Salinas, Josh (5-3) | Diaz, Christian (2) | | 113 | 24–28 | 9–13 |
| May 18 | vs Houston Christian | Vincent–Beck Stadium Beaumont, TX | 3–5 | Lopez, Mark (3-0) | Zavala, Isaiah (4-5) | None | ESPN+ | | 24–29 | 9–14 |
| May 18 | vs Houston Christian | Vincent–Beck Stadium Beaumont, TX | 14–4 | Berens, Micah (2-3) | Hamilton, Jackson (1-3) | None | ESPN+ | | 25–29 | 10–14 |
Post-season (1–1) :
Southland Tournament (1–1) :
| Date | Opponent | (Seed)/Rank | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Overall record | Tournament record |
| May 22 | vs. (1) Lamar | (8) | Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field Hammond, LA | 6–3 | Byrd, Adam(1-3) | Perez, Andres(2-1) | None | ESPN+ | 26–29 | 1–0 |
| May 23 | vs. (5) McNeese | (8) | Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field Hammond, LA | 2–6 | Alexis Gravel(2-4) | Zavala, Isaiah(4-6) | Cameron LeJeune (6) | ESPN+ | 26–30 | 1–1 |
| May 24 | vs. (1) Lamar | (8) | Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field Hammond, LA | 6–18 (7 inn) | Hesseltine, Hunter(7-3) | Berens, Micah(2-4) | None | ESPN+ | 26–31 | 1–2 |