The ACU baseball team completed the inaugural Al Scott Memorial Classic with two wins and a loss over the weekend, improving their overall record to 5-1.
The Wildcats started the classic by playing against the defending Southland champs, Central Arkansas, on Friday. ACU kept up with the Bears but stranded 12 runners on their way to a 6-4 loss.
Head coach Britt Bonneau liked the way the team played against a solid UCA Team.
“We were able to compete at a high level,” Bonneau said. “They had a good team last year that finished in the finals of the regional, so being able to be on that field and play against them and see what they are like was good.”
ACU came back strong against New Jersey Institute of Technology the following day with a 10-1 win.
Sophomore pitcher Garrett Demeyere won his second game of season with a 6.0 inning, one earned run performance.
The Wildcat’s final game on Sunday wasn’t decided until pinch-hitter sophomore Heath Beasley doubled to bring freshman Taylor Waters to take the lead in the eighth inning. The Wildcats would pitch one final shutout inning in the ninth to take the 6-5 win.
The Wildcats bullpen had another great outing as junior pitcher Kevin Sheets picked up the win with seven strikeouts in 4 innings.
Senior Seth Spivey continued his early season success by going 6-for-11 in the three games last weekend. Spivey currently leads the Southland in hitting with a .571 batting average at the plate.
Both players and the coaches felt the classic was a great way to remember Al Scott and what he meant to the program and those involved.
“We miss Al and being able to have this classic and put it in his name was awesome and a great tribute to him,” Bonneau said. “Not having him out there on a daily basis has been hard on a lot of us.”
Spivey also said that without Scott there wouldn’t be ACU baseball.
“It means a lot to the program and if it wasn’t for him and his family we wouldn’t be able to play,” Spivey said. “It’s going to be a great tournament in the future and I’m glad we did well in it.”
The Wildcats will return to action on Friday for a three game series against Grand Canyon University. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.
