The Optimist
  • Home
  • About
    • Advertise
    • Policies
    • Staff Contacts
    • Jobs
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorials
  • Multimedia
    • Photo Galleries
    • Videos
  • Features
  • Print Edition
    • The Pessimist
    • Special Projects
  • Police Log
  • Classifieds
You are here: Home / Multimedia / Photo Galleries / Gallery: Baseball rallies past Stephen F. Austin in 20–10 comeback
Diego Cardenas, senior infielder from El Paso, nearly makes it to first base before getting an out. (Photo by Callie Brimberry)

Gallery: Baseball rallies past Stephen F. Austin in 20–10 comeback

March 8, 2026 by Daniel Rhodes and Callie Brimberry Leave a Comment

Baseball earned a 20–10 comeback win over Stephen F. Austin on Wednesday at Crutcher Scott Field at Bullock Brothers Ballpark. The Wildcats trailed 10–1 entering the bottom of the fifth inning before scoring the game’s final 19 runs to secure the run-rule victory. Diego Cardenas led ACU with nine RBIs, tying the program record, while Zandt Payne added a three-run home run and Grant Watkins helped seal the win in the eighth inning.

The team also played a three-game series against Rice this weekend, starting Friday and continuing through Sunday, dropping the first two games 5–4 and 8–6 before closing the series with a 4–1 win.

Diego Cardenas, senior infielder from El Paso, and Thomas Schnabel, freshman outfielder from Driftwood, kneel to pray before the game. (Photo by Callie Brimberry).
The baseball team lines up to pray on the field before the game begins. (Photo by Callie Brimberry)
Carson Wallace, freshman left-handed pitcher from Harleton, throws a pitch. (Photo by Daniel Rhodes).

Brady Gray, sophomore catcher from Farmersville, catches the ball during warm-ups. (Photo by Callie Brimberry).
The Wildcats watch from the dugout. (Photo by Callie Brimberry).
Head coach Rick McCarty meets with the team on the pitcher’s mound. (Photo by Daniel Rhodes).

Zandt Payne, graduate infielder from Edmond, Oklahoma, prepares to hit the ball. (Photo by Callie Brimberry)
Diego Cardenas, senior infielder from El Paso, runs to first base. (Photo by Callie Brimberry).
Diego Cardenas, senior infielder from El Paso, nearly makes it to first base before getting an out. (Photo by Callie Brimberry)

Gavin Brzozowski, graduate outfielder/left-handed pitcher from Mansfield, talks with a teammate across the field. (Photo by Callie Brimberry).
Ryan Jones, redshirt freshman infielder/outfielder from Aledo, hits the baseball. (Photo by Callie Brimberry).
Ryan Jones, redshirt freshman infielder/outfielder from Aledo, sprints toward first base. (Photo by Daniel Rhodes).

Ryan Jones, redshirt freshman infielder/outfielder from Aledo, runs back to the dugout after making an out. (Photo by Callie Brimberry).
JT Thompson, senior infielder from Abilene, prepares to hit the baseball. (Photo by Callie Brimberry).
Players meet on the pitcher’s mound while the team watches from the dugout. (Photo by Callie Brimberry).

Zandt Payne, graduate infielder from Edmond, Oklahoma, waits for a pitch while at bat. (Photo by Daniel Rhodes).
Zandt Payne, graduate infielder from Edmond, Oklahoma, runs back to the dugout after the top of the fourth inning. (Photo by Callie Brimberry).
Grayson McKelvey, freshman right-handed pitcher from Aledo, throws a pitch. (Photo by Daniel Rhodes).

Filed Under: Multimedia, Photo Galleries, Showcase

Other Multimedia:

  • Gallery: Class of 2026 honored at senior candlelight devo

  • Gallery: Annual Kirk Goodwin Run raises over $38,000

  • Gallery: Baseball unable to hold early lead against Dallas Baptist

About Daniel Rhodes

About Callie Brimberry

Leave a Comment: Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

You are here: Home / Multimedia / Photo Galleries / Gallery: Baseball rallies past Stephen F. Austin in 20–10 comeback

Other Multimedia:

  • Gallery: Class of 2026 honored at senior candlelight devo

  • Gallery: Annual Kirk Goodwin Run raises over $38,000

  • Gallery: Baseball unable to hold early lead against Dallas Baptist

Follow us online

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Optimist on Twitter

acuoptimist The Optimist @acuoptimist ·
9 May

BREAKING: The 2026 teacher of the year is Dr. Clint Buck, assistant professor of accounting in the College of Business Administration.

Reply on Twitter 2053158226070257771 Retweet on Twitter 2053158226070257771 Like on Twitter 2053158226070257771 2 Twitter 2053158226070257771
acuoptimist The Optimist @acuoptimist ·
4 May

BREAKING NEWS: James Bradshaw and Maddie Grace Fridge are the 2026 Mr. ACU and Miss ACU.

Reply on Twitter 2051110655172784350 Retweet on Twitter 2051110655172784350 Like on Twitter 2051110655172784350 4 Twitter 2051110655172784350

Optimist on Facebook

This message is only visible to admins.
Problem displaying Facebook posts.
Click to show error
Error: Server configuration issue Error: No posts available for this Facebook ID

Videos

Optimist Newscast Feb. 28, 2024

Our top stories today include a recap of The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, the ... [Read More…]

  • Optimist Newscast Feb. 21, 2024
  • Optimist Newscast Feb. 14, 2024
  • Optimist Newscast Jan. 24, 2024

Latest Photos

  • Home
  • About
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
    • Policies
    • Advertising Policy
    • Letters to the Editor and Reader Comments
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorials
  • Multimedia
    • Videos
    • Photo Galleries
  • Features
  • Advertise
    • Paid Advertisement
  • Police Log

© 2026 ACU Optimist · All Rights Reserved