# 2021 Incarnate Word Cardinals baseball team

The 2021 Incarnate Word Cardinals baseball team represented the University of the Incarnate Word during the 2021 NCAA Division I baseball season. The Cardinals played their home games at Sullivan Field and were led by second–year head coach Ryan Shotzberger. They were members of the Southland Conference.

## Preseason
### Southland Conference Coaches Poll

The Southland Conference Coaches Poll was released on February 11, 2021, and the Cardinals were picked to finish seventh in the conference with 144 votes.
Coaches poll :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 1 | Sam Houston State | 276 (17) |
| 2 | Central Arkansas | 247 (5) |
| 3 | McNeese State | 244 (1) |
| 4 | Southeastern Louisiana | 243 (3) |
| 5 | Northwestern State | 193 |
| 6 | Texas A&M–Corpus Christi | 146 |
| 7 | Incarnate Word | 144 |
| 8 | Nicholls | 108 |
| 9 | New Orleans | 101 |
| 10 | Abilene Christian | 98 |
| 11 | Stephen F. Austin | 92 |
| 12 | Lamar | 87 |
| 13 | Houston Baptist | 49 |

### Preseason All-Southland Team & Honors
#### First Team

* Ryan Flores (UIW, 1st Base)
* Nate Fisbeck (MCNS, 2nd Base)
* Beau Orlando (UCA, 3rd Base)
* JC Correa (LAMR, Shortstop)
* Gavin Johnson (SHSU, Catcher)
* Clayton Rasbeary (MCNS, Designated Hitter)
* Sean Arnold (UIW, Outfielder)
* Brandon Bena (HBU, Outfielder)
* Colton Cowser (SHSU, Outfielder)
* Noah Cameron (UCA, Pitcher)
* Will Dion (MCNS, Pitcher)
* Kyle Gruller (HBU, Pitcher)
* Conner Williams (UCA, Pitcher)
* Itchy Burts (TAMUCC, Utility)

#### Second Team

* Preston Faulkner (SELA, 1st Base)
* Logan Berlof (LAMR, 2nd Base)
* Anthony Quirion (LAMR, 3rd Base)
* Reid Bourque (MCNS, Shortstop)
* Chris Sandberg (NICH, Catcher)
* Lee Thomas (UIW, Designated Hitter)
* Josh Ragan (UCA, Outfielder)
* Jack Rogers (SHSU, Outfielder)
* Tyler Smith (NSU, Outfielder)
* John Gaddis (TAMUCC, Pitcher)
* Gavin Stone (UCA, Pitcher)
* Luke Taggart (UIW, Pitcher)
* Jeremy Rodriguez (SFA, Pitcher)
* Jake Dickerson (MCNS, Utility)

## Schedule and results

Legend :
| | Incarnate Word win |
| | Incarnate Word loss |
| | Postponement/Cancelation/Suspensions |
| Bold | Incarnate Word team member |
2021 Incarnate Word Cardinals baseball game log :
Regular season (21-28) :
February (3-0) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |
| Feb. 19 | Oral Roberts | Sullivan Field • San Antonio, TX | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled |
| Feb. 20 | Oral Roberts | Sullivan Field • San Antonio, TX | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled |
| Feb. 21 | Oral Roberts | Sullivan Field • San Antonio, TX | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled |
| Feb. 26 | Texas Southern | Sullivan Field • San Antonio, TX | W 12-1 | Rollins (1-0) | Fields (0-2) | Garza (1) | | 115 | 1-0 | |
| Feb. 27 | Texas Southern | Sullivan Field • San Antonio, TX | W 16-6 | McElmeel (1-0) | Olguin (0-2) | None | | 115 | 2-0 | |
| Feb. 28 | Texas Southern | Sullivan Field • San Antonio, TX | W 13-5 | Zavala (1-0) | Williams (0-2) | None | | 115 | 3-0 | |
March (7-8) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |
| Mar. 3 | Texas A&M | Olsen Field at Blue Bell Park • College Station, TX | L 4-6 | Menefee (2-1) | Hayward (0-1) | None | 894 | 3-1 | |
| Mar. 10 | Houston | Sullivan Field • San Antonio, TX | L 7-13 | Deese (1-1) | Hayward (0-2) | None | 115 | 3-2 | |
| Mar. 12 | at Northwestern State | H. Alvin Brown–C. C. Stroud Field • Natchitoches, LA | L 4-5 | Harmon (1-2) | Rollins (1-1) | Makarewich (1) | 463 | 3-3 | 0-1 |
| Mar. 13 | at Northwestern State | H. Alvin Brown–C. C. Stroud Field • Natchitoches, LA | W 2-1 (7 inns) | Zavala (2-0) | Carver (2-1) | None | 305 | 4-3 | 1-1 |
| Mar. 13 | at Northwestern State | H. Alvin Brown–C. C. Stroud Field • Natchitoches, LA | W 3-2 | Foral (1-0) | Michel (0-1) | None | 305 | 5-3 | 2-1 |
| Mar. 14 | at Northwestern State | H. Alvin Brown–C. C. Stroud Field • Natchitoches, LA | L 5-6 | Daigle (1-0) | Hayward (0-3) | None | 427 | 5-4 | 2-2 |
| Mar. 19 | Southeastern Louisiana | Sullivan Field • San Antonio, TX | W 6-5 (13 inns) | Garza (1-0) | Hughes (1-1) | None | 115 | 6-4 | 3-2 |
| Mar. 20 | Southeastern Louisiana | Sullivan Field • San Antonio, TX | W 5-0 (7 inns) | Zavala (3-0) | Warren (3-1) | None | | 7-4 | 4-2 |
| Mar. 20 | Southeastern Louisiana | Sullivan Field • San Antonio, TX | L 6-7 | Bartley (2-1) | Foral (1-1) | Hoskins (2) | 115 | 7-5 | 4-3 |
| Mar. 21 | Southeastern Louisiana | Sullivan Field • San Antonio, TX | W 5-3 | Hayward (1-3) | Stuprich (1-1) | Garza (2) | 115 | 8-5 | 5-3 |
| Mar. 23 | at No. 9 Texas | UFCU Disch–Falk Field • Austin, TX | L 1-10 | Quintanilla (2-0) | Walker (0-1) | None | 1,538 | 8-6 | |
| Mar. 26 | Central Arkansas | Sullivan Field • San Antonio, TX | L 7-12 | Haley (1-0) | Rollins (1-2) | Gregson (1) | 82 | 8-7 | 5-4 |
| Mar. 27 | Central Arkansas | Sullivan Field • San Antonio, TX | W 12-11 (7 inns) | Garza (2-0) | Verel (0-1) | None | 115 | 9-7 | 6-4 |
| Mar. 27 | Central Arkansas | Sullivan Field • San Antonio, TX | W 10-2 | McElmeel (2-0) | Janak (2-2) | Hayward (1) | 115 | 10-7 | 7-4 |
| Mar. 28 | Central Arkansas | Sullivan Field • San Antonio, TX | L 3-4 | Cleveland (3-2) | Martinez (0-1) | None | 92 | 10-8 | 7-5 |
April (4-16) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |
| Apr. 1 | at Stephen F. Austin | Jaycees Field • Nacogdoches, TX | L 0-14 (7 inns) | Gennari (2-2) | Rollins (1-3) | None | 124 | 10-9 | 7-6 |
| Apr. 2 | at Stephen F. Austin | Jaycees Field • Nacogdoches, TX | L 1-11 (7 inns) | Todd (2-2) | Zavala (3-1) | None | 116 | 10-10 | 7-7 |
| Apr. 2 | at Stephen F. Austin | Jaycees Field • Nacogdoches, TX | W 15-9 | Garza (3-0) | Stobart (0-3) | None | 118 | 11-10 | 8-7 |
| Apr. 3 | at Stephen F. Austin | Jaycees Field • Nacogdoches, TX | L 1-11 (8 inns) | Sgambelluri (2-1) | Walker (0-2) | None | 140 | 11-11 | 8-8 |
| Apr. 6 | Prairie View A&M | Sullivan Field • San Antonio, TX | W 12-1 (8 inns) | Warwick (1-0) | Maldonado (0-3) | Beddingfield (1) | 52 | 12-11 | |
| Apr. 9 | at McNeese State | Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA | L 6-10 | Abraham (2-0) | Zavala (3-2) | Duplechain (1) | 311 | 12-12 | 8-9 |
| Apr. 10 | at McNeese State | Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA | L 1-19 (7 inns) | Dion (4-3) | Rollins (1-4) | None | 429 | 12-13 | 8-10 |
| Apr. 10 | at McNeese State | Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA | L 1-4 | Ellison (2-1) | Garza (3-1) | Foster (1) | 429 | 12-14 | 8-11 |
| Apr. 11 | at McNeese State | Joe Miller Ballpark • Lake Charles, LA | L 4-10 | Vega (1-3) | Minter (0-1) | None | 368 | 12-15 | 8-12 |
| Apr. 13 | at Rice | Reckling Park • Houston, TX | L 12-15 (10 inns) | Larzabal (1-0) | Foral (1-2) | None | 1,045 | 12-16 | |
| Apr. 16 | New Orleans | Sullivan Field • San Antonio, TX | L 4-5 | Erbe (1-2) | Cassidy (0-1) | Seroski (4) | 64 | 12-17 | 8-13 |
| Apr. 17 | New Orleans | Sullivan Field • San Antonio, TX | L 5-13 (7 inns) | Turpin (6-1) | Garza (3-2) | None | | 12-18 | 8-14 |
| Apr. 17 | New Orleans | Sullivan Field • San Antonio, TX | L 1-3 | Mitchell (2-1) | Minter (0-2) | Seroski (5) | 102 | 12-19 | 8-15 |
| Apr. 18 | New Orleans | Sullivan Field • San Antonio, TX | W 6-3 | Zavala (4-2) | LeBlanc (0-3) | McElmeel (1) | 88 | 13-19 | 9-15 |
| Apr. 23 | at Abilene Christian | Crutcher Scott Field • Abilene, TX | W 12-1 (7 inns) | Cassidy (1-1) | Morgan (0-3) | None | 238 | 14-19 | 10-15 |
| Apr. 24 | at Abilene Christian | Crutcher Scott Field • Abilene, TX | L 7-10 (7 inns) | Huffling (5-1) | Garza (3-3) | None | 481 | 14-20 | 10-16 |
| Apr. 24 | at Abilene Christian | Crutcher Scott Field • Abilene, TX | L 3-8 | Glaze (1-1) | Westall (0-1) | None | 411 | 14-21 | 10-17 |
| Apr. 25 | at Abilene Christian | Crutcher Scott Field • Abilene, TX | L 4-8 | Chirpich (4-3) | Zavala (4-3) | None | 616 | 14-22 | 10-18 |
| Apr. 27 | at No. 3 Texas | UFCU Disch–Falk Field • Austin, TX | L 3-5 | Shifflet (1-0) | Celestino (0-1) | Nixon (5) | 1,610 | 14-23 | |
| Apr. 30 | at Nicholls | Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field • Thibodaux, LA | L 1-2 | Gearing (4-3) | Cassidy (1-2) | Taylor (8) | 784 | 14-24 | 10-19 |
May (7–4) :
| Date | Opponent | Site/stadium | Score | Win | Loss | Save | TV | Attendance | Overall record | SLC Record |
| May 1 | at Nicholls | Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field • Thibodaux, LA | W 6-1 | Minter (1-2) | Desandro (3-2) | None | | 637 | 15-24 | 11-19 |
| May 1 | at Nicholls | Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field • Thibodaux, LA | W 3-2 | Zavala (5-3) | Kilcrease (2-6) | Garza (3) | | 684 | 16-24 | 12-19 |
| May 2 | at Nicholls | Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field • Thibodaux, LA | L 5-7 | Balado (3-1) | Garza (3-4) | Taylor (9) | | 777 | 16-25 | 12-20 |
| May 4 | at No. 3 TCU | Lupton Stadium • Fort Worth, TX | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled |
| May 7 | Houston Baptist | Sullivan Field • San Antonio, TX | W 9-4 (7 inns) | Celestino (1-1) | Austin (3-2) | None | | 50 | 17-25 | 13-20 |
| May 7 | Houston Baptist | Sullivan Field • San Antonio, TX | W 5-4 | Cassidy (2-2) | Coats (2-7) | Garza (4) | | 94 | 18-25 | 14-20 |
| May 8 | Houston Baptist | Sullivan Field • San Antonio, TX | W 5-4 | McElmeel (3-0) | Reitmeyer (2-3) | Foral (1) | | 115 | 19-25 | 15-20 |
| May 9 | Houston Baptist | Sullivan Field • San Antonio, TX | W 3-2 | Hayward (2-3) | Zarella (0-6) | Garza (5) | | 92 | 20-25 | 16-20 |
| May 11 | at Baylor | Baylor Ballpark • Waco, TX | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled |
| May 18 | at UTSA | Roadrunner Field • San Antonio, TX | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled | Game cancelled |
| May 20 | Lamar | Sullivan Field • San Antonio, TX | L 0-7 (7 inns) | Michael (6-2) | Cassidy (2-3) | None | | 75 | 20-26 | 16-21 |
| May 20 | Lamar | Sullivan Field • San Antonio, TX | L 4-13 | Mize (2-1) | Minter (1-3) | None | | 112 | 20-27 | 16-22 |
| May 21 | Lamar | Sullivan Field • San Antonio, TX | W 6-4 | Celestino (2-1) | Douthit (1-3) | Garza (6) | | 112 | 21-27 | 17-22 |
| May 22 | Lamar | Sullivan Field • San Antonio, TX | L 3-13 (7 inns) | Dallas (2-2) | Rollins (1-5) | Cole (1) | | 75 | 21-28 | 17-23 |

## Postseason
### Conference accolades

* Player of the Year: Colton Cowser – SHSU
* Hitter of the Year: Colton Eager – ACU
* Pitcher of the Year: Will Dion – MCNS
* Relief Pitcher of the Year: Tyler Cleveland – UCA
* Freshman of the Year: Brennan Stuprich – SELA
* Newcomer of the Year: Grayson Tatrow – ACU
* Clay Gould Coach of the Year: Rick McCarty – ACU
References: