Softball Heads to Stephenville

ABILENE – Coming off their biggest wins of the season ACU will travel to Tarleton State to continue Lone Star Conference Play. They will tangle with the TexAnns in a doubleheader on Friday followed by a single game Saturday afternoon.

ABILENE CHRISTIAN vs. TARLETON STATE
APRIL 16-17, 2010 • STEPHENVILLE, TX.

FIRST PITCH
The Wildcats knocked off the 17th-ranked Angelo State Rambelles over the weekend taking 2 of 3. ACU also split a mid-week series with St. Mary's taking game one 12-8, before losing a heartbreaker in the ninth inning, 5-4. The Wildcats were out-hit and out-scored by the Rambelles during the series leaving 22 runners on base. However, for the first time this year the Wildcats were successful hitting with runners in scoring position as they hit .429 with the bases loaded including a grand slam from Missy Mendoza, her first homerun of the year. Shelby Hall pitched a couple of outstanding performances picking up the two wins, and got a great relief outing from Brittany Rexroat. Rexroat entered the game on Saturday with a two run lead and runner on second and finished the 2.1 innings allowing only two hits picking up her first save of the season. Junior Shawna Barrow continued her stellar season stealing two bases against ASU for her 40th, a season and career record at ACU. Barrow's 40 stolen bases has also put at the top of the LSC and NCAA DII with Glenville State's Brittany Handley who also has 40; fittingly Barrow drew three walks over the week as she ranks among the top 20 in the nation as 19th toughest hitter to strikeout.   Barrow also saw her average raise to over .400 posting a 1.000 slugging percentage and .818 on base percentage. Outfielder Jenny Kulp leads the LSC in doubles and is also is among the leaders in NCAA DII with 18 doubles on the season. She began the week just three behind the national leaders where four different players were tied with 17.

SERIES HISTORY
ACU leads 27-21. The Wildcats hold a four game winning streak over the TexAnns dating back to the 2008 LSC Tournament. ACU swept Tarleton State last year in their only meeting. The last loss to Tarleton came in '08 when TSU took 2-of-3 from ACU during the regular season, but the Wildcats would get revenge eliminating the TexAnns from the post-season in the conference tournament.

Double Leaders
Last year ACU catcher Jessica Shiery lead the nation in walks so this year a different style has cause another Wildcat to be among the leaders in NCAA Division II. Shawna Barrow has been either No.1 or No.2 all season in stolen bases. Barrow currently has 40 stolen bases which is good for No.2 in the country and leading the LSC. Her 40 stolen bases is also a single season and all-time record at ACU.
Also senior Jenny Kulp has found her name at the top of a national leader board. Kulp is currently tied for the NCAA DII lead in doubles with 18. Kulp vaulted to the top with a huge week against St. Mary's and Angelo State as she hit .500 and recorded four doubles finishing with a .722 slugging percentage. Her 18 is also just two shy of the single season record at ACU.

UP NEXT
ACU will return home for their final home stand of the season as they host a mid-week doubleheader with St. Edward's on Tuesday. The Wildcats will follow up their home schedule next weekend as they host Eastern New Mexico for a Friday doubleheader and single game on Saturday.