The ACU softball team suffered two losses and earned one win last weekend when it traveled to Huntsville to play against Sam Houston State University.
The Wildcats have faced Sam Houston State University several times this year and knew what to expect, players said. With SHSU having strong and smart hitters, the pressure was on for the Wildcats to make sure their pitching was on point.
In the first game, ACU lost 7-1 as its only run was a homer by Kyla Simmons in the top of the third. Sam Houston was able to score one run in the second inning and six in the third.
“Sam Houston State was able to make adjustments offensively and we couldn’t catch a break,” said senior Lyndi Smith. “I felt like we hit the ball well, but we just couldn’t find a hole. Sam’s defense was unstoppable.”
ACU defeated SHSU 4-2 for the first time this season out of five games in the second game of the series. The Bearkats made their two runs within the first two innings as pitcher Peyton Mosley held them for the rest of the game.
Kaylee Crozier and Simmons scored in the second inning as Madison Buckley hit a single and advanced to second on the throw.
Later in the seventh, Buckley hit a double and two RBI’s as Anna Jones and Jacquelyn Perez scored.
In Sunday’s game ACU lost to SHSU 7-4. Both teams scored two runs in the first inning and the game remained tied until the bottom of the fifth when the Bearkats scored five runs to take the lead.
In the top of the seventh, ACU scored a pair of runs as Paige Stevens drove in a run and Cara Hoover singled in a run.
“I think we had good pitching on Friday, which is what carried us, and we play decent defense,” Smith said. “All around, it wasn’t a very good weekend for us in pitching, defense or offensive. We need to be better at making adjustments.”
The series against SHSU ended the away games for conference play. However, ACU will break from conference competition this week as it faces University of Texas at Arlington on Wednesday. The game will begin at 6 p.m. in Arlington.
ACU will pick back up conference play again this weekend as it faces Houston Baptist University at home.
