The No. 8 Wildcats dropped two of three in Kingsville, including a nine-run seventh inning comeback by the Javelinas, over the weekend to open their season 1-2.
After having their opener delayed by more than a week, the Wildcats were on cruise control six innings into their season opener leading 13-5. But the ACU bullpen was unable to contain the Javelinas who stormed back, scoring nine runs in just two-thirds of an inning and on only two hits.
“I was trying to get somebody up in the bullpen that could throw strikes,” said head coach Britt Bonneau. “It’s not like we were putting bad pitchers out there.”
The Wildcats were unable to rally in their final two innings and fell to Kingsville 14-13 in the season opener despite five errors by Kingsville accounting for six of ACU’s 13 runs.
Saturday the Wildcats were again poised for a victory up this time 4-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning. The lead was built off of four errors from Kingsville; but starting pitcher Aaron Lambrix struggled to contain the Javs giving up four straight hits to open the inning before being pulled by Head Coach Britt Bonneau. Senior Will Calhoun came on in relief but could not hold back the floodgates giving up a double to his first batter. Calhoun was responsible for two runs one of them earned.
Kingsville pitcher Aaron Aspaas, younger brother of ex-ACU pitcher Cameron Aspaas knocked in two RBI in the game including the first run of the sixth.
The Wildcats had their chances in the seventh inning with the tying run at the plate twice, but were unable to capitalize.
“We struggled with pitching,” said senior Will Calhoun. “I think it was a lack of intensity in the middle of the game and that gave them momentum.”
It looked as though the Wildcats would be swept out of Kingsville in game three going down 3-0 before ACU took a turn at a comeback victory.
Coach Bonneau’s team was down in the sixth inning before scoring one run in the seventh, eighth, and ninth to send the game into extra innings. In the 10th ACU took over scoring two runs on a double by Cameron Bankston. Bankston was thrown out trying to stretch his double to a triple.
Peter Goudeau and Abe Williams both doubled to make it three runs in what would prove to be the final inning for the Wildcats. Calhoun sat the Javelinas down in order in the bottom half of the inning on just 21 pitches finishing off Kingsville 6-3.
ACU will take their 1-2 record into a matchup against East Central University this weekend. The games are scheduled for Friday at 4:05 p.m. and Saturday at 1:05 p.m. and 3:05 p.m.
“We have a lot of maturing to do as a team,” said Bonneau. “We have to learn what it means to be a part of a program with high standards.”
