The Wildcat baseball team continues to pile up positives as they picked up their second Southland series win of the season. ACU’s improved record now sits at 8-21 overall and 6-6 in conference with two wins against the Houston Baptist Huskies (16-14, 7-5) and a loss to No. 2 TCU.
Head coach Britt Bonneau said that freshman Drew Hanson and junior Garrett DeMeyere pitched two impressive games for the ‘Cats.
“We did a lot things right Day One,” Bonneau said. “We got out of major jams and we stole it from them. In game three we pitched real well and we were able to ride the freshman Drew Hanson.”
The ‘Cats started off the series Thursday with an impressive 9-2 win. Senior first baseman Tyler Eager went one-for-three at the plate including a home run and a career-high four RBIs. Sophomore catcher Mason Spracklen also recorded a home run along with a two-for-three performance at the plate.
DeMeyere and the bullpen collectively walked 11 batters but gave up only two runs. Junior pitcher Nick Palacios picked up his first win of the season and senior Ladgie Zotyka improved his ERA with 2.1 scoreless innings.
Friday’s game featured a 4-2 win by the Huskies. HBU’s junior pitcher Matthew McCollough, who was 6-1 on the year, earned a complete-game, two-earned-run outing against the ‘Cats. The Wildcats were only able to manage seven hits on the afternoon with junior third baseman Kyle Carroll leading the team with a two-for-three game at the plate.
The Wildcats would finish off the series with a pitcher’s duel with Hanson coming out on top, 3-1. Hanson put seven zeroes up on the scoreboard to tie the Wildcats’ 2014 Southland win total.
Freshman right fielder Marcelle Carter gave the Wildcats a quick start with a two-run single in the top of the first to give ACU an early lead. Hanson would not relinquish a run for seven innings. ACU’s bats would add to that lead in the ninth with a sacrifice fly RBI by sophomore left fielder Aaron Draper.
Senior reliever Kevin Sheets would give up one run in the ninth but would record his third save of the year giving ACU the win.
ACU followed up its three game series win with a tough 4-3 loss against the No. 2 team in the country, TCU.
The game started off with an offensive explosion as TCU and ACU scored two runs each. The Wildcats came back in the third to take the lead. The ‘Cats led for six innings but could not hold off the Horned Frogs as they took the lead in the seventh inning and held on for the 4-3 win.
ACU managed 10 hits on the night and were led by senior first baseman Tyler Eager who went 2-for-4 at the plate with two runs.
Senior relievers Ladgie Zotyka and Kevin Sheets continued their solid seasons with two shutout innings.
The Wildcats return to the field this Friday against Texas A&M Corpus Christi.
