The Wildcats stayed alive in the hunt for the LSC Championship series after taking two of three from the conference’s second worst team, Eastern New Mexico.

“We finally have been doing the things we need to do to win these last few series,” said senior Cameron Bankston.

ACU dropped the first of three games on Friday after the bullpen and some shaky defensive play allowed the Greyhounds to pull away in the later innings after the score was tied heading into the sixth.

Will Calhoun pitched well in a no decision after giving up just two earned runs in five innings while striking out two.

Cameron Watten brought the Wildcats back even with Eastern New Mexico at 3-3 with a safety squeeze that brought home Bryce Gerhardt.

It all came apart for ACU in the sixth when an error by catcher Ian Tomkins resulted in two unearned runs for the Greyhounds in the bottom half of the sixth, the error was one of five committed by the Wildcats in the game.

In the Saturday doubleheader, Coach Bonneau’s team fared much better outscoring the Greyhounds 13-6 between the two games. Pitchers Brent Bray and Brady Rodriguez put on a show with outstanding performances on the mound.

“They have had some good outings in relief and got some spot starts for us this year,” said Bonneau. “We just needed to get some guys out there that could last more than three innings.”

A three-run bottom of the fifth helped Bray when the Wildcats plated all three runs with two outs in the inning.

Catcher Ian Tomkins turned his lead-off single into a run after moving to

third on a wild pitch and being brought home with a single by Duncan Blades. Blades stole second and was brought home by Sky Valenzuela, who was back playing shortstop in the absence of Aaron Oliver who is recovering from an injury to his shoulder.

Valenzuela went two for three at the plate and launched his second home run of the season.

Reliever Zach Sneed came on to finish off the Greyhounds, picking up his third save of the season.

In the rubber match, Rodriguez had one of his best outings of the season holding the Greyounds to just three runs, two of them earned, on eight hits while striking out two in 6-1/3 innings.

Abe Williams was on fire from the plate going four for four including two doubles. Williams brought in two Wildcat runs and scored twice on his own.

Sneed came in to close out the game for ACU but left with a blown save. Thanks to four Wildcat runs in the eighth, Sneed picked up the win instead to close out the series for the Wildcats.

ACU will be back in action on Wednesday against No. 10 St. Mary’s Rattlers at Crutcher Scott Field. Pitch is slated for 4:05 p.m.