The Abilene Christian softball team made history on Friday breaking the program’s single-game run record with 25 runs in game one of their three-game series sweep of the Eastern New Mexico Zias.
The previous run record for the single-game program was 22 against University of Texas Permian-Basin on Feb. 10, 1998.
The record was tied once more just two seasons ago against the Zias on March 11, 2011.
In the first two games the team combined for seven home runs, two grand slams and 29 hits, totaling 35 runs.
The grand slams came from a pinch-hitter in Cara Hoover, and the other from Courtney Flanary. The team almost tied the single-game home run record finishing game one with three shots; one shy of the record.
“It was exciting that everyone including our bench got to bat and contribute to the win,” Winkfield said. “Our offense has been on point so far, and I hope we can continue to be hot throughout these last few games in conference.”
Junior slugger Lyndi Smith belted a three-run blast to start the game with a 4-0 lead in the first inning. The shot placed her in the double digits with ten on the season.
Each batter finished game one recording at least one hit, touched home plate and drove a run in.
Even though the offense had their best day thus far, starting pitcher Caitlyn Crain (13-10) pitched a shutout. She tossed just 57 pitches over 5.0 innings, with four strikeouts and only two hits.
“Pitching with a lead like that makes you a hundred times more comfortable. It takes a lot of the pressure off a pitcher when you have some ‘wiggle’ room,” Crain said.
The seventh inning was a bit of a struggle for the ‘Cats defensively when they had three different pitchers approach the circle.
Starter Shelby Hall started off allowing the first six batters to touch base. Peyton Mosley then had the opportunity to relieve her, but couldn’t quite find the strike zone after facing three batters.
With the score 10-8, Crain was called up from the bullpen. She quickly struck out the first two batters who came to the plate, recording her fifth save of the year.
“It felt good to be able to come in and seal the deal. Shelby pitched great that game, and I wanted to finish that game for her and the team with a W,” Crain said.
The third and final game of the series was accredited to the bat of Sara Vaughn.
With the help of an unyielding complete game pitching performance in Crain, the ‘Cats broke a 2-2 tie as Vaughn’s two-out blast soared over the left field wall.
The team will host their final home game as a member of the Lone Star Conference and Division II against Angelo State tonight at 7 p.m.
They will conclude their weekend against a hot Midwestern State team now on a ten-game winning streak. The first of the three-game series starts this Friday at 7 p.m.
