Wildcats host ENMU in LSC opener
ACU begins defense of LSC title with three-game series
ABILENE -- ACU, the three-time defending Lone Star Conference champion, will begin its quest for a fourth straight championship this weekend when it hosts Eastern New Mexico in the LSC South Division-opening series for both teams.
The Greyhounds and Wildcats will square off in a 2 p.m. doubleheader Friday at Scott Field, followed by a single game at noon Saturday.
Eastern New Mexico enters the series at 3-6 and coming off a loss Tuesday at Lubbock Christian. ACU, meanwhile, enters the series at 7-2, ranked fifth in the country in the latest Collegiate Baseball magazine poll, and coming off a doubleheader split on Tuesday at St. Mary's.
"We've found out a lot about ourselves through these first nine games, but we know we still need to make a lot of improvement, especially on the offensive side," ACU head coach Britt Bonneau said. "Plus, we've still got two or three pitchers who could work their way into starting roles."
Bonneau hopes some of the offensive improvements will begin this weekend with some changes he's making in his starting lineup. Beau Bimson will move into the lineup at second base, replacing Luis Munoz, while Brian Johnson goes to left field, replacing Marcelino Escalante, who becomes the full-time designated hitter.
Bimson and Johnson, Bonneau said, give the Wildcats more speed both offensively and defensively.
"We know we can score runs, but these changes are designed to give us more speed in our lineup," Bonneau said. "Speed puts added pressure on a defense and gives you more opportunities to score. We've had quite a bit of speed on the field the last few years, and I like that type of game. If you go out there with a lineup of just hitters, one pitcher can shut you down. I want us to get different types of hitters in the lineup so that we can bunt, hit-and-run and steal bases, rather than just playing station-to-station baseball."
Bimson will hit at the bottom of the order, while Johnson could move into the No. 2 spot with senior rightfielder Clay Chesser moving down to the No. 6 position. Chesser leads the Wildcats at the plate through nine games, hitting .500 (13 for 26) with nine runs scored, one home run and five RBI.
Sophomore shortstop Ryan Barker is hitting .394 (13 for 33 with eight RBI), while junior first baseman Arnie Gomez is hitting .391 with three home runs and five RBI.
Bonneau is also making a change in his starting pitching rotation, moving senior righthander Brad Massey (1-0, 5.40 ERA) from the Saturday slot to the first game on Friday. Before the season, Bonneau wanted Massey to be his guy to throw the nine-inning game on Saturday. However, after playing third base and running the bases on a Friday doubleheader, Massey has run out of steam early in his two Saturday starts, lasting just and average of five innings in each start. Last Saturday against Northeastern State, he went just four innings before giving way to the bullpen.
Massey's move to the front of the rotation means that Sam Hall (1-1, 3.00 ERA) will pitch Game 2 on Friday with Kristian Bell (2-0, 5.06 ERA) starting Saturday's single game.
After starting the season 1-1, the Wildcats have won six of their last seven to move to five games over .500. The key for the Wildcats during the stretch has been a pitching staff that has allowed just 16 runs in ACU's last six games (2.67 runs per game).
"We've had five really good starts in our last five games," Bonneau said of the pitching staff. "We knew we had good pitchers, but they still had to go out and perform. I like what I've seen so far. We have a very talented group that hasn't yet put it all together. When we do, we could be fun to watch."
