The ACU softball team did not get the spring break they hoped for. The team played a total of six games over the course of the break, and lost four of the six.
The team started with the 2013 Best Western Premier Spring Fling held March 12-13 against St. Edward’s University and Texas A&M International University. St. Edward’s forced the ‘Cats two shutout losses 0-1 and 0-7.
Early in the second inning of the first game against St. Edward’s, junior all-conference pitcher Peyton Mosley took a line drive shot to the face from St. Edward’s infielder Kendall Lucas, which led to a possible broken nose. Her return to the mound is questionable at this point.
“My nose is fine. I’m not having any problems with it, pitching or otherwise,” Mosley said.
Senior pitcher, Caitlyn Crain took over after the injured Mosley. She pitched 4.2 innings and let only one earned run pass home plate; but that is all starting pitcher Katelyn Klug needed to seal the 1-0 victory. The ‘cats had several players in scoring positions late in the fourth and fifth innings, but couldn’t capitalize from the defense behind the mound.
“Every loss is tough. We were looking for revenge considering the first time we played them they run ruled us,” Crain said. “I feel like we fought the whole game; it just didn’t end in our favor.”
The Hilltoppers finished their sweep with a 7-0 score the next day.
The next opponent in TAIMU was a hard-fought comeback victory. Keanna Winkfield’s unearned run in the bottom of the sixth inning helped the ‘cats to a 6-5 win over the Dustdevils.
Each inning had many lead changes.
Courtney Flanary recorded her fourth home run of the season at the start of the third inning, which gave the ‘Cats the lead 4-3.
Sara Vaughn would score an unearned run in the fourth to give the team their biggest lead 5-3. In the top of the fifth, Hilltopper infielder/catcher Rochelle Nash blasted a two-run shot over deep-left center field to tie the game 5-5.
The winning run by Winkfield was just the icing on the cake for the offensive day she recorded. She finished 4-for-4 with multiple RBI’s.
“After winning the game against TAIMU, it was a huge relief,” Winkfield said. “We knew we needed to carry exactly the energy we had into the games against Texas Women’s University.”
The ‘Cats handed the Pioneers of Texas Woman’s University their first Lone Star Conference defeat of the season on Saturday with a shutout victory of 9-0.
Out of the three games they played TWU, they won one. The other losses were close scores of 7-8 and 2-3. The last game the ‘Cats were up 2-1 in the fifth, but a game-tying RBI triple to the right-center gap by Lizzy Kelly, and a solo shot in the sixth from Jordan Readicker gave the Pioneers the win.
Tuesday, the ‘Cats played a doubleheader against the Falcons of the University of Texas Permian Basin, and won both games 3-2 and 10-1.
The Wildcats return to action against LSC rival Tarleton State University this Friday at 6 p.m.
