Abilene Christian
Central Oklahoma
Wildcats take Series from Bronchos
2/15/2010 7:31:19 PM | Baseball
ABILENE – A school record 13 runs in the bottom of the third inning helped lead the Wildcats to a Lone Star Conference season opening series victory over Central Oklahoma on Monday. The Bronchos took game one of the double header after a grand slam in the top of the eighth gave UCO a 6-2 win while the Wildcats record breaking inning led to 20-6 victory in game two.
ACU scored 13 runs in the bottom of the third that was highlighted by a grand slam by senior Chris Hall who finished 3 for 9 in the two games with three runs scored and four RBIs. Three players for the Wildcats finished 4 for 4: Travis Latz, who added his fourth homer of the season, Clint Bowker and Will Calhoun, who had two doubles.
The Wildcats recorded 21 hits in the romp of the Bronchos as ACU had seven extra base hits in the series finale.
Aaron Lambrix got a no-decision after starting and sitting through the record setting inning he was replaced by Kevin Justice who got his first win of the season. Ryan McCabe threw the final two innings allowing no hits and striking out three.
In the first game ACU fell behind early when Taylor Brown hit a lead-off homerun for Central Oklahoma. Again in the top of the fifth UCO would add another run when Arrow Cunningham scored on a passed ball; however the Wildcats would tie the game in the bottom of the inning after Bowker walked and Hall singled shortstop Willie Uechi singled home Bowker. Hall would score one batter later when Latz hit a sacrifice fly to left tying the game at 2-2.
Brad Rutherford was handed the loss as he stranded one Broncho in the top of the seventh, but couldn't get out of the eighth when right fielder Ryan Schoonover hit a grand slam proving to be the game winning run for Central Oklahoma.
Rutherford got the loss in as Tim Schuman picked up his first win and Yost recorded the save.
ACU entered the game ranked No. 12 in the ABCA poll and after the two games moved up two spots to No. 10 as announced by the American Baseball Coaches Association on Monday.
The Wildcats hit the road for nine games beginning with a four game series Friday and Saturday in Kingsville against the Javelinas. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 1 p.m.
