By Daniel Johnson, Sports Editor
In its second game of the Lone Star Conference Postseason Tournament, ACU played some of its best baseball of the year.
“We did everything,” said head coach Britt Bonneau. “We pitched well, hit well and controlled the game defensively.”
ACU run-ruled Southwestern Oklahoma State 12-0 to knock the Bulldogs out of the LSC tourney and set a new school record for wins in a season behind an all around performance at Crutcher Scott Field on Sunday.
Starting pitcher Brian Kennedy pitched all seven innings of the game and only allowed two-hits in his 10th win of the season.
Kennedy’s full-game performance also put the Wildcats in good pitching position for the rest of the tournament.
Two of ACU’s starters, including 9-0 LSC Player of the Year Trey Watten, haven’t seen the mound and record-breaking closer Jameson Maj has only pitched one inning in the tournament.
“I felt like I had to have my best stuff today,” Kennedy said. “We knew coming in our starters had to go as long as they could.”
The 13th-ranked Wildcats are now 46-11 overall and have won 12 straight games and 15 out of the last 16 games played. The Wildcats 46th win broke the regular season wins record set in 2002.
“Our offense hasn’t been there for a while,” Bonneau said. “But we made adjustments early and a couple of guys stepped up big.”
In stormy and windy conditions ACU’s lineup outhit Southwestern 15-2 and scored more than any team has so far in the tournament.
ACU went on top early with a run in the first inning and after not scoring in the second inning scored for the last five consecutive innings.
The Wildcats only had a five run lead after five innings and created the run-rule opportunity after scoring five runs in the six inning, highlighted by a 2 RBI double by right fielder Jordan Schmitt and 2 RBI single from second baseman Thomas Bumpass.
Despite the big win, Bonneau said his team needs to continue to play at their best if it wants to win an automatic bid in the NCAA South Central Regional Tournament.
“We still got a lot to play for,” Bonneau said. “We are still in a position where we need to win the tournament to ACU will play the winner between Angelo State and Central Oklahoma at 11 a.m., Monday.”
