The Wildcats have been on an absolute tear before the start of conference play, going 10-1 through their first 11 games including a three-game weekend sweep of Mississippi Valley State University last weekend and a two-hit shutout on Wednesday against Dallas Christian.
ACU started off the weekend series with MVSU in a rough spot, as the team was down early after giving up two runs in the first inning. Although the Wildcats came back and made it a back-and-forth game and even took a 5-3 lead going into the sixth, the Delta Demons scored two runs in both the sixth and seventh innings to lead 7-6 and kept the lead going into the bottom of the ninth.
That’s when freshman pinch-hitter Colton Eager led off with a single before moving to second on a groundout. Sophomore outfielder Caleb Kyle drew a walk and allowed junior IF/DH Dalon Farkas to force extras with a game-tying double.
It was there that a walk, a balk and an error on a throw to first on what was supposed to be a sacrifice bunt gave the Wildcats the walk-off win. Junior Brennan Lewis picked up the win after throwing a perfect 10th inning, and Kyle led the offense for the Cats like he has most of the season, going 2-for-4 with two doubles and a walk, picking up two RBI’s. Kyle credits his coaches and teammates being there to bring him in when he gets on base.
“I just use my speed to get on base,” Kyle said, “and let the other guys like Dalon Farkas do the rest. We’ve got a lot of good guys like Derek [Scott], Robert Salazar, Dalton [Dunn] and Dalon in our lineup and guys on the bench to help out when we need them.”
The double-header on Saturday was less nail-biting, as ACU handily won both games by scores of 11-3 and 15-4. MVSU never held a lead in either game, and ACU was led by solid hitting from Kyle, who legged out two triples in game one, and outfielder Derek Scott, who was responsible for six of ACU’s 11 runs.
Brock Barger picked up his first win as a Wildcat in the first game, and Colton Brasher picked up his second win of the season in game two after going six innings and striking out seven, while allowing only one run.
ACU went into the weekday game against Dallas Christian as heavy favorites as DCC entered 1-10, with a 24-2 loss to Loyola less than a month ago, a game in which they gave up three grand slams.
The Wildcats stuck to the script and started off early, scoring four runs in the first, off of a couple of base hits, walks and an error. They continued their scoring throughout the game, but the pitching was the highlight, as five pitchers combined for eight no-hit innings.
Jonathan Nicholson came in at the start of the ninth and gave up two hits to the first two batters, but picked up a flyout before getting the final batter of the game to ground into a double-play to end it. ACU was lead offensively by junior outfielder Matt Munoz, who went 2-for-3 with a run.
Perhaps the biggest story of the night was Luis Trevino, who dressed in uniform for the first time after going through weeks of rehab for his throwing arm. Trevino isn’t sure when he will be cleared to play, but he wants to contribute to what he says is already a good team.
“It feels amazing to be back in the dugout,” Trevino said. “It’s hard to be away from the game, but I’m really working hard on rehab and trying to get better every day… I want to help this team win more games than they already are.”
The Wildcats head to San Antonio to take on Incarnate Word this weekend to begin conference play. Their first game is Friday night at 6:30 p.m.
