The Wildcat baseball team will put its five-game winning streak on the line this weekend against No. 22 Southern Arkansas University.
The three-game series begins on Friday at 4:05 p.m. Saturday, ACU will play a doubleheader starting at 1:05 p.m. The first game of the doubleheader is a seven inning match-up, while the second is nine innings.
The ‘Cats are coming off their best performance of this young season. In four games against Colorado Christian University, ACU batted .338 and outscored the Cougars by 23 runs. Pitching also improved (team ERA of 2.61 for the series). The team only allowed CCU to score 13 runs and zero in game two.
Southern Arkansas (4-2) is located in Magnolia. The Muleriders contend in the Great American Conference and are the favorites to win the conference championship according to the preseason coaches’ poll.
Head coach Britt Bonneau feels his team must limit its mistakes if they expect to win the series.
“This is a team that really pitches well and has a lot of speed,” Bonneau said. “We have to be perfect in a lot of areas. If we aren’t, good teams will take advantage of that..we will be challenged in all fazes of our game.”
SAU had an overall record of 36-16 last season. The team won the Gulf South Conference championship and advanced to the NCAA Division II South Regional in Pensacola, Fla. where it lost to the University of North Alabama and the University of Tampa.
Junior Travis Schuetze, who is a pitcher converted to infielder, thinks highly of Southern Arkansas.
“They are one of the better teams in Division II,” Schuetze said. “They always produce a good squad. Our goal is to minimize mistakes and not leave hitters on base.”
The Muleriders returned their second leading batter from last year, shortstop Trey Buck, who is hitting .409 with a .519 on-base percentage.
Another notable returner is starting pitcher Doug Shields. He has yet to give up an earned run or an extra-base hit through 8.0 innings of work. Shields has struck out seven batters and only walked one.
As a team this season, Southern Arkansas is batting .337 with an on-base percentage of .444. Opponents are hitting .268 versus SAU pitchers who have posted an ERA of 4.21.
Bonneau wants the Wildcats to play at a high level.
“Our hitters will be challenged this weekend,” Bonneau said. “Southern Arkansas is a team that is well respected around the country. This will be a series in which we can step back and see how we react to both good and bad things that happen.”
“This will definitely be a good test for us,” Schuetze said. “Anytime you play a good team your strengths and weaknesses become more evident.”
