By Grant Abston, Sports Editor
The No. 15 Wildcat baseball team continued its winning streak, winning its eighth-straight game Saturday afternoon against Central Oklahoma, improving to 9-2 overall and 6-0 in the Lone Star Conference after defeating the Bronchos on Friday, 14-12.
ACU scored eight runs in the seventh inning Saturday to break a 2-2 tie, scoring 14 runs on 15 hits for the game to defeat Central Oklahoma, 14-2. Starting pitcher Cameron Aspaas pitched 6.0 innings, allowing just two runs on three hits, while relief pitcher Kevin Justice pitched two scoreless innings to close out the game and earn the win.
“We did a good job today,” head coach Britt Bonneau said. “Their pitcher did a good job with us, and we finally got some key hits and had a good eight-run seventh inning that kind of separated us, and we matched their pitching. Aspaas pitched a good game for us.”
The Wildcats scored one run in the first inning and one in the fifth inning, but Central Oklahoma scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to tie the game at two. However, ACU scored eight runs in the seventh inning to break the game open. Second baseman Chris Hall opened the seventh inning with a base hit before center fielder Thomas Bumpass singled him home to put the Wildcats up 3-2. Catcher Jordan Schmitt then singled Bumpass home before designated hitter Anthony Walsh doubled to score Schmitt and right fielder Alex Harrison, who reached on a walk. After third baseman Cameron Watten reached on a walk, first baseman Bret Bochsler doubled to score Walsh and Watten and pushed the lead to 8-2. Hall then followed with an RBI single before Bumpass drove in Hall for the final run of the inning.
Hall and Walsh led the Wildcats with three hits apiece while Bumpass, shortstop Willie Uechi, Watten and Bochsler each had two hits. Bumpass and Walsh had a game-high three RBI. The Wildcats were scheduled to play a double-header, but the second game was cancelled due to bad weather.
“Nothing has changed as far as how we’re going to pitch [tomorrow], and we will stay in the same order,” Bonneau said. “When you have 38 degree weather with 20-30 mph wind, it’s tough. We decided to play just one game and play tomorrow with better weather and move it up to 11 a.m.”
On Friday, the Wildcats scored 11 runs in the third inning to take a 13-1 lead and held on late to preserve a 14-12 win. Starting pitcher Matt Sullivan went 2 1/3 innings, allowing six runs on four hits, while relief pitcher Andrew Yacek went 4 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on four hits to earn the win. Closer Brad Rutherford closed the ninth inning to earn his second save of the season.
In the third inning, the Wildcats hit three home runs, capped off by a grand slam by Schmitt. Hall began the inning with a solo home run, followed by a two-run single by designated hitter Travis Latz. Watten then followed with a three-run home run to push the lead to 8-1. After Watten, three more Wildcats reached base before relief pitcher Nolan Maher came on in relief to face Schmitt. Schmitt jumped on Maher, hitting a grand slam to center field to make it 13-1.
“He has been hovering around the .300 mark and has not really been consistent, but it’s good to see him come out and hit the ball hard and do things with runners in scoring position,” Bonneau said.
The Bronchos scored five runs in the bottom of the third, three in the fourth and three in the eighth to pull within two runs, but Rutherford put the game away in the ninth, retiring three-straight batters to end the game after allowing the first two to reach base.
Schmitt finished the game 4-4 with six RBI to lead the Wildcats, followed by Hall (3-5, 2 RBI), Watten (2-6, 3 RBI) and Latz (1-4, 2 RBI).
The Wildcats close out the series tomorrow with game one, starting at 11 a.m. Game two will be immediately after, as the Wildcats look to remain undefeated in conference play.
“We have to pitch well tomorrow,” Bonneau said. “We’ve got to be able to go in there and contain their hitters. They still have one of the top pitchers in the league throwing tomorrow, and it’s a good test for us to get ready for whatever comes in the future.”
