By Daniel Johnson, Sports Editor
ACU lost the first two games of its series against the University of Central Oklahoma, but starting pitcher and shortstop Trey Watten knew the 17th-ranked Wildcats wouldn’t get swept.
“That’s what I like about us the most,” Watten said. “We’re fighters.”
And sure enough, ACU baseball team clawed back from early deficits in both Saturday games to sweep the defending LSC champions and split the series 2-2.
“We haven’t played anyone that challenged us as much a they did,” Watten said.
The split ended the Wildcats’ portion of the season against LSC North opponents and extended its overall record to 24-8. ACU was 18-4 against LSC North teams and swept three of its six North opponents.
Head coach Britt Bonneau said the UCO series was the last of a throng of road tests for the Wildcats in preparation for upcoming LSC South division play. In addition to UCO, ACU played six games on the road over the last two weeks, including a series against formally 10th-ranked, now No. 14, Delta State. ACU swept Southwestern Oklahoma (5-2, 4-3, 3-0, 16-1) and lost both games to Delta State (9-3, 15-6).
Although ACU was ranked No. 8 in the nation before spring break and is now No. 17, Bonneau said his team is ready for upcoming LSC South division play.
“Who we played over the last two weeks definitely prepared us for the next five weeks,” Bonneau said.
ACU will start divisional play against Tarleton State at home Friday with a conference leading record and the only national ranking of the 12 LSC teams.
The Wildcats rallied late in both games on Saturday to split the series against the UCO Bronchos. In the first game ACU overcame a 5-5 tie in the fourth inning after outfielder Mike Elkerson hit a solo homerun in the sixth inning to take a 6-5 lead that outfielder Travis Catalini added on to with a sacrifice fly in the seventh that brought in third basemen Alec Sowards for 7-5 win. The homerun was Elkerson’s second of the game; he hit a three-run shot in the second inning to tie the game.
Closer Jameson Maj, picked up the save after striking out two UCO batters and denying a bottom-of-the-seventh comeback.
Two homeruns helped sustain a Wildcat win in game two against ACU as well; a sixth- inning shot by reserve third baseman Sean Nourie that put ACU up 7-6 and a two-run shot in the seventh inning by catcher Jordan Schmitt that eventually won the game 9-7.
Watten and Brian Kennedy each recorded wins on Saturda and each lead the ACU pitching corps with five wins.
UCO won each of the two games on Friday by a run each, 8-7, 10-9.
“We played some unbelievable baseball the first day and unfortunately came out with no victories,” Bonneau said.
Bonneau said he is pleased with his team’s progress thus far and expects the competition to only get tougher once divisional play begins against Tarleton.
“It’s going to be another typical ACU dog fight,” Bonneau said.
