Bullpen Holds UCO for 7-6 Win

Friday, April 1

Edmond, OK

2 pm

Abilene Christian

Central Oklahoma

Photo by: Jeremy Enlow

4/1/2011 6:39:32 PM | Baseball

EDMOND, Okla. – After struggling to get productive innings out of the bullpen early this season the Wildcats got four scoreless innings of relief to knock off Central Oklahoma, 7-6 to open a three game Lone Star Conference series at Wendall Simmons Field on Friday.

ACU picked up their fifth one-run win of the season to improve to 18-13 overall and 11-8 in league play. The Bronchos fall to 11-19 and 6-16 in the LSC as the two teams resume their conference series on Saturday with a double-header starting at noon.

The Wildcats would take an early lead in the top of the second inning when JR Roland scored on a wild pitch after leading off the inning with a double to center. The next batter, Cameron Watten would drive in his only RBI of the day scoring Ian Tomkins who followed Roland's double with one of his two hits of the game.

UCO would pull within one run in the bottom half of the second and take a 5-2 lead in the bottom of the third when Kevin Blue roped a two RBI single to right center to start the rally. Arrow Cunningham would pick up his first of two hits on an RBI single before Ryan Schoonover's sacrifice fly plated Blue, before Cunningham was gunned down trying to tag and advance to third.

After both teams scored a run in the fourth the Wildcats would mount their comeback scoring a run in the fifth as Will Calhoun led off the inning with a solo home run his second of the season. Calhoun would find his way to the plate again in the sixth singling through the right side for his team leading 29th RBI of the year. A few pitches later Cameron Bankston would score from third on a wild pitch to give ACU a 7-6 lead and the eventual winning run.

Calhoun picked up the no-decision going four innings allowing six runs only five of which were earned. He also struck out five while walking three before being lifted in the fifth for Kevin Justice who picked up his third win of the season in three innings of relief.

Zach Sneed picked up his first save of the season since moving to the bullpen as he worked a scoreless ninth. Sky Valenzuela pitched a perfect eighth striking out two as he faced the minimum.