BURKBURNETT – ACU held off a rally from St. Edward's as the Wildcats won, 5-4 after dropping their first game to Fort Hays State, 5-0 on Sunday to close out the Holiday Inn at the Falls/Midwestern State Invitational.
In the days first game the Wildcats were shutout by Fort Hays State on a complete game effort from Maddie Holub. Holub held ACU to only four hits and walked one as the Wildcats struck out seven times for the second time in the tournament.
The Tigers jumped on the Wildcats early as Holub, helped her cause blasting a two-out homerun in the top of the first. FHSU would add to their lead in the second inning as they batted around to take a, 4-0 lead.
Peyton Mosely got her sixth start of the season, but was chased in the second giving way to
Shelby Hall. Mosely allowed four of the Tigers' runs, however only two were earned. Hall would go the final 5.1 only allowing a seventh inning homerun to Erin Dyok.
ACU started a rally in the bottom of the seventh, as a walk, a single, and a hit batsman would load the bases. However, a runner's interference call would end the ACU inning leaving the bases loaded and the Wildcats scoreless.
The Wildcats took their third win in four tries against St. Edward's as they were able to hold off a seventh inning rally from the Hilltoppers for the win.
Brittany Rexroat picked up her eighth win of the season, third over St. Edward's this season, only walking two and striking out one.
It was a reversal for the Wildcats, playing as the visitors, they jumped out to a three run lead in the first inning. Missy Mendoza and
Tiana Tuinei both singled to lead off and Mendoza would score on a
Candice Miller sacrifice fly in foul territory.
Valentina Nabayan would blast her sixth home run of the season, a two-run shot to straight away center giving ACU an early, 3-0 lead.
The Hilltoppers would scratch back with a lead-off triple from Chaney who would score with one out when Bailey singled her home.
ACU would add two more insurance runs, which would later prove to be the difference in the ballgame.
Megan Brigance singled to lead off the fourth and scored on a
Kara Stutesman sacrifice fly.
Mendoza would tally the other Wildcat run on her second home run of the season to the gap in left center. Mendoza's home run was the game winning run as St. Edward's would rally to score three more runs in the bottom of the seventh.
Back-to-back home runs, a two-run shot and a solo blast pulled the Hilltoppers within one run. But Rexroat would get a fly ball to end the game and preserve the win.
The Wildcats improved to 14-13 getting back above .500 on the season ending a span of seven games in four days. ACU opens Lone Star Conference play next weekend as they travel to Portales, New Mexico for a three-game conference series with Eastern New Mexico.
