By Austin Gwin, Sports Writer
The Wildcats continued doing the same thing they have been doing since March 7 – winning. After wins against Central Oklahoma and Midwestern State on Sunday, ACU extended its school record win streak to 14 games.
“It is always great when you are on a winning streak,” head coach Chantiel Wilson said. “Each win builds confidence and momentum. The pitching and defense have been the keys for us, and it has allowed our hitters to relax at the plate.”
Starting pitchers Jacque Gregoire and Kim Partin both picked up wins Sunday, improving ACU’s overall record to 30-9 overall and increasing its Lone Star Conference lead to 1.5 games over Angelo State.
In the first game Sunday, ACU came from behind to beat the Central Oklahoma Bronchos 4-2. After falling behind 1-0 after a second-inning home run, ACU answered with a three-run third inning. A double by second baseman Jackie Gentile proved to be the game-winning hit, scoring right fielder Brooke Whittlesey and shortstop Melissa Rodriguez. Third baseman Nancy Sawyers recorded an RBI double in the fifth inning to put ACU ahead by three, and Gregoire kept the Bronchos scoreless until the final inning when the Bronchos scored just one run to come up short.
Gregoire recorded her 15th victory of the season, putting her in the top five among all LSC pitchers. It also was her 15th complete game of the season after allowing five hits and striking out two batters and recording no walks.
In game two, ACU dominated Midwestern State 7-1 for its first ever win against MSU at Mustang Park. Gentile, Whittlesey and Sawyers, who each totaled 2 RBI, led a Wildcat offense that scored two runs in the second, third and fourth inning to take a 6-0 lead. Starting pitcher Kim Partin picked up her eighth victory of the season after pitching a complete game, allowing one run on eight hits, while striking out one.
“[Gregoire and Partin] have both stepped up their game and are pitching with a lot of
The Wildcats continued doing the same thing they have been doing since March 7 – winning. After wins against Central Oklahoma and Midwestern State on Sunday, ACU extended its school record win streak to 14 games.
“It is always great when you are on a winning streak,” head coach Chantiel Wilson said. “Each win builds confidence and momentum. The pitching and defense have been the keys for us, and it has allowed our hitters to relax at the plate.”
Starting pitchers Jacque Gregoire and Kim Partin both picked up wins Sunday, improving ACU’s overall record to 30-9 overall and increasing its Lone Star Conference lead to 1.5 games over Angelo State.
In the first game Sunday, ACU came from behind to beat the Central Oklahoma Bronchos 4-2. After falling behind 1-0 after a second-inning home run, ACU answered with a three-run third inning. A double by second baseman Jackie Gentile proved to be the game-winning hit, scoring right fielder Brooke Whittlesey and shortstop Melissa Rodriguez. Third baseman Nancy Sawyers recorded an RBI double in the fifth inning to put ACU ahead by three, and Gregoire kept the Bronchos scoreless until the final inning when the Bronchos scored just one run to come up short.
Gregoire recorded her 15th victory of the season, putting her in the top five among all LSC pitchers. It also was her 15th complete game of the season after allowing five hits and striking out two batters and recording no walks.
In game two, ACU dominated Midwestern State 7-1 for its first ever win against MSU at Mustang Park. Gentile, Whittlesey and Sawyers, who each totaled 2 RBI, led a Wildcat offense that scored two runs in the second, third and fourth inning to take a 6-0 lead. Starting pitcher Kim Partin picked up her eighth victory of the season after pitching a complete game, allowing one run on eight hits, while striking out one.
“[Gregoire and Partin] have both stepped up their game and are pitching with a lot of confidence,” Wilson said. “They are feeding off our [defense] and maintaining a good mental focus at the plate.”
Friday, the Wildcats swept Texas Woman’s University with back-to-back victories, winning 2-0 and 11-3. Gregoire and Partin each recorded wins for the Wildcats after pitching complete games. In Gregoire’s win, catcher Jessica Shiery hit a solo home run and left it up to Gregoire to pitch the Wildcats to victory. Gregoire struck out nine batters in a complete game shut out.
In the second game Friday, Partin and the Wildcats fell behind early 3-1 to the Pioneers before the ACU offense took over with a four-run second inning and a five-run third inning. Partin allowed just four hits the rest of the game, while first baseman Katie Cornelison and left fielder Jenny Kulp led ACU with two RBI. The game lasted five innings after ACU scored a run in the fifth to run-rule the Pioneers 11-3.
The Wildcats will continue LSC play Friday against Angelo State at 7 p.m. before a doubleheader Saturday at noon and 2 p.m. Although the Wildcats are in front of the Rambelles in the LSC standings, the Rambelles are ranked No. 1 in the nation, while ACU sits at No. 16.
“We just need to keep playing relaxed, but focused,” Wilson said.
