By Daniel Johnson, Sports Editor
ACU closer Jameson Maj has already secured his spot in the ACU history books, and after two more solid performances in Kingsville this weekend, Maj’s name is now among the best pitchers in the history of the Lone Star Conference.
In only his first season at ACU, Maj broke the LSC single-season record for saves after adding two more against Texas A&M-Kingsville this weekend for a season total of 12.
“He’s definitely been our workhorse out of the pen,” said head coach Britt Bonneau. “He’s been the one consistent thing we’ve had all year.”
Maj already holds the ACU single season and career saves records, and his conference record is two more than the previous one set by former Northeastern State pitcher Joe Ornelas in 1991.
“If you’re going to win a championship you need a good closer,” Bonneau said. “The reason why we’re 34-11 is because we have a closer that can come in and hold the lead.”
Maj and the rest of the nationally ranked Wildcats retained their spot atop the LSC South after winning three out of four games against Kingsville this weekend. ACU swept the first three games of the series, 7-6, 6-3 and 5-3 and lost the final game 7-3.
Despite dropping one spot to No. 13 in national rankings, the three wins extended ACU’s conference record to 9-3, and ACU is now tied with Angelo State for first in the LSC South. Angelo moved to 9-3 after sweeping last place West Texas A&M.
Bonneau blamed the game-four loss on the absence of consistent day-two starters; a kink ACU has little time to fill since the postseason is less than three weeks away.
“If this team’s going to go anywhere come playoff time we need to find good second-day starters,” Bonneau said.
ACU’s day-one starters, Trey Watten and Chris Wiman, both picked up their seventh wins after they each posted a six-inning performance in Friday’s games.
Wiman kept the Wildcats in a close first game after matching Kingsville ace Raul Trevino for six innings.
ACU won the game after Mike Elkerson scored the game-winning run on a sacrifice fly ball from designated hitter J.J. Pacheco.
Watten, who is 7-0 on the mound, only gave up three runs and five hits in game two after the Wildcat gave him the run support he needed by scoring three runs in the fourth and adding onto the lead with a run in the sixth and seventh innings.
ACU secured the series by winning game one Saturday behind a seven-inning performance by Brian Kennedy. Kennedy pitched seven innings and allowed four hits and three earn runs and extended his record to 7-2.
