By Daniel Johnson, Sports Editor
The ACU baseball team’s last regular season series was an appropriate ending to its record breaking season.
ACU swept West Texas A&M, broke the record for wins in the regular season, won the Lone Star Conference South Division and secured a No. 1 seed for the upcoming LSC postseason tournament.
“We went out there knowing we needed four wins,” said head coach Britt Bonneau. “But we still know there is a lot of work to be done as far as getting to where we want to be.
The 13th-ranked Wildcats ended its regular season with four wins over last place West Texas to extend its record to 44-11 and win its seventh LSC South title.
ACU beat West Texas, 5-3 and 2-0, on day one and 9-4 and 4-1 on day two.
ACU closer Jameson Maj continued to add onto his saves record, picking up three more against West Texas. Maj’s total of 19 is now the best in Division II baseball and one away from breaking the NCAA record for saves in a single season.
“I’m just proud of that guy,” Bonneau said. “He’s really helped us out and helped us win some close games.”
After winning two close games on day one, ACU set the record for wins in a season. The new record, 44 wins, broke the old record of 41, but Bonneau said his team was only focusing on sweeping the series.
“No one even talked about it,” Bonneau said. “We knew we needed to win two more.”
ACU went on to sweep the second day and won its third LSC South title in the last four years, and Bonneau picked up his 450th career victory.
Bonneau said his team didn’t play as well as he would have liked, but they got the job done when needed.
“Sometimes its tough going somewhere and playing when you know you’re already in the tournament and you’re playing a team that isn’t in the tournament.” Bonneau said.
ACU’s starting pitching corps only gave up eight runs in the four games, and ACU’s lineup rocked West Texas’ pitchers.
No. 1 seed ACU will take on No. 6 seed Texas A&M-Kingsville in the LSC tournament Saturday, and Bonneau said its up to his most consistent players to win the tournament.
“You got to rely on the guys you relied on during the year,” Bonneau said. “It’s kind of a chess match-you hope you make the right move.”
