Wildcats take three from Zias
Bryan drives in 15 as ACU improves to 8-4 in LSC South
PORTALES, N.M. – Abilene Christian turned Zia Softball Field into their personal playground over the weekend, pounding out 58 hits and scoring 43 runs en route to taking three of four games from Eastern New Mexico in a Lone Star Conference South Division series.
ACU won both games Friday by the scores of 14-8 and 11-7 before splitting Saturday's doubleheader, winning the first game 15-10 before dropping the series finale, 7-3. The Wildcats are now 24-15 overall and 8-4 in the LSC South Division and in second place in the division behind defending national champion Angelo State, which is 11-1.
The Wildcats will take on Hardin-Simmons at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Wells Field, and will then return to LSC South Division action this weekend at Wells Field with a key four-game series against Texas Woman's. ACU is two games ahead of third-place Texas A&M-Kingsville (6-6) in the division standings, while TWU is in fourth at 5-7 after being swept at home last weekend by Angelo State.
ACU senior first baseman Katie Bryan was the dominant force in the series, finishing the four games 10 for 15 (.667) with 11 runs scored, one double, four home runs and 15 RBI. In Friday's doubleheader sweep, Bryan hit four home runs and drove in 12 runs. She had a grand slam and two-run home run in each game of the doubleheader. Bryan now has 15 home runs and 52 RBI on the season, both of which lead the LSC.
ACU senior third baseman Valerie Malkinson was 9 for 11 (.818) with four runs scored, two doubles, two home runs and five RBI in the series. Jennifer Leal picked up two wins in the series for the Wildcats, while Melanie Smith got the other win on the mound.
Here's a brief recap of each game of the series:
Game 1 (ACU 14, Eastern New Mexico 8) – Jade Wilson got ACU off to a quick start with a two-run home run in the second inning, and then Bryan smashed a grand slam to key an eight-run fourth inning. Wilson also had a two-run double in the inning.
Bryan keyed a three-run sixth inning with a two-run home run, and Malkinson added a solo home run in the seventh inning to ice the game for ACU.
Game 2 (ACU 11, Eastern New Mexico 7) – Bryan blasted a two-run home run in the first inning, and then added a grand slam in the seventh to lead the Wildcats.
Daisy Barcena had a solo home run in the second inning for ACU. Leal pitched just one inning before leaving the game with an injury. She gave way to Smith, who picked up the win, and Allison Crouse, who pitched the final two innings to pick up the save.
Game 3 (ACU 15, Eastern New Mexico 10) – The Wildcats clinched a series victory, getting off quickly against the Zias with a five-run second inning. Danielle Faulk had a two-run double in the inning, while Heather Krumpols, Kristin Alvarado and J.D. Doty each had an RBI single in the inning.
The Wildcats had a seven-run seventh inning, keyed by a three-run triple by Wilson and a two-run single by Bryan. Alvarado and Ashley Whittenberg each had RBI doubles in the inning for ACU.
Leal returned to the mound and went 6 1/3 innings to pick up the win and push her record to 18-7 on the season.
Game 4 (Eastern New Mexico 7, ACU 3) – Eastern New Mexico broke open a 3-3 game with four-run sixth inning to salvage the series finale and avoid a sweep by the Wildcats.
Malkinson had a pair of RBI doubles, while Bryan had an RBI double in the game.
