ACU baseball followed up its first series win of the season with an 11-6 loss to the No. 15 Dallas Baptist Patriots. The Wildcats gave up 11 runs on 10 hits to DBU, after allowing just five runs all weekend to McNeese State. The Wildcats dropped their overall record to 5-16 while the Patriots improved to 19-3.

The pitching staff struggled early on as sophomore pitcher Austin Lambright gave up three earned in his lone inning of work. Senior pitcher Joe Gawrieh followed up Lambright’s inning allowing two more runs in the top of the second to give DBU a 5-0 early lead.

“We didn’t do a good job on the mound in the first two innings,” head coach Britt Bonneau said. “We did do some good things offensively in the fourth but we just fell apart late.”

Junior pitcher Nate Cole gave the Wildcats two solid innings of work, giving up only one unearned run.

The ACU offense would finally cut into the DBU lead in the bottom of the fourth with a four-run inning. Senior first baseman Tyler Eager would lead the way for the ‘Cats as he recorded a leadoff walk. Freshman infielder Jeff Clarke and sophomore outfielder Taylor Waters would drive in four runs that inning thanks to two DBU throwing errors.

DBU would hammer five runs in with two outs in the fifth inning to affirmably put ACU in rearview mirror. The Wildcats would manage just two more runs the rest of the game to lose 11-6.

Senior reliever and ERA leader (0.73) Ladgie Zotyka along with senior Kevin Sheets would pitch three shutout innings to give the Wildcats a solid effort against one of the nation’s best.

The ACU bats have still been spotty at best this season as they are hitting just .234 as a team so far. They are, however, playing a lot of youth this season. First baseman Tyler Eager and infielder Colton Hall are the only two seniors that have started the majority of the games for the Wildcats this season.

The Wildcats return to action Friday for a non-conference series against Lamar in Beaumont.