The Wildcats began Spring Break in Durant, Okla., playing two doubleheaders against Southeastern Oklahoma. During the first doubleheader March 12, the Savage Storm narrowly swept ACU 1-0 and 11-10. The next day, the Wildcats split the doubleheader, winning the first game 8-2 and losing another close game 10-9.

Before returning home, the Wildcats traveled to Cleveland, Miss., for a midweek series against the Delta State Statesmen on March 16-17. They split the two-game series, losing the first 5-8 and winning the second 5-4.

After the break, the Wildcats finally returned home for a weekend series against the Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds, where they won three of four games.

“We came out today just trying to get some wins,” said pitcher Will Calhoun. “We hit a little bit of a slump over the break, but it is good to get back home and have that home-field advantage. I think that was a big part of the day, just us being comfortable, being home and having fun.”

KELSI WILLIAMSON Chief Photographer Junior Brad Rutherford delivers a pitch during the Wildcats 12-5 win over Eastern New Mexico on Sunday. Rutherford gave up two runs in two innings.

On Friday, the Wildcats lost their first game to the Greyhounds 4-3. Game Two of the doubleheader started but was postponed because of inclement weather conditions that lasted through Saturday, forcing the teams to complete the series in a tripleheader Sunday. But that didn’t stop the Wildcats from winning all three games on Sunday.

“We had a real tough game Friday with a 4-3 loss,” said Head Coach Britt Bonneau. “That just shows you that this is a league with a lot of good teams in it, and we’ve just got to keep working hard.”

During the first game on Sunday, the Wildcats finished the nine-inning game that started on Friday. The Wildcats began the game swinging, scoring eight runs in the second inning to take an early lead. Calhoun pitched a complete game, allowing only five runs, and the Wildcats won the game 15-5 via the run rule.

The second game Sunday began with a solo home run by Aaron Oliver in the first inning, putting the Wildcats in the lead. The Greyhounds scored two runs in the second and another run in the third to take away the Wildcats’ lead, but ACU got back on track after a three-run hit in the fourth. The Wildcats continued scoring from then on and defeated the Greyhounds 12-5.

The last game of the day and the series started slow. The Wildcats trailed the Greyhounds 3-1 until the bottom of the fifth inning when Clint Bawker hit a two-run triple. Travis Latz followed his lead, with a two-run home run.

The Wildcats continued their consistent scoring, and in the eighth, Calhoun hit a two-run home run to end the game 13-3 via the run rule.

“When you are playing a tripleheader and you get two 10-run rules, you get two games that you shorten up because you scored a bunch of runs, that is huge for our pitching staff,” Bonneau said. “It was a good day for us offensively and defensively.”

The Wildcats will play another home series next weekend against the Angelo State Rams.