Box Score ABILENE – After struggling most of the season the Wildcat bullpen only allowed one run and three hits in six innings of relief, however it was too late as Cameron withheld a late ACU rally to win the opening game of a three game Lone Star Conference series, 9-6 Friday night at Crutcher Scott Field.
ACU who is now in an almost must-win position with only five games remaining will close out their regular season home schedule against the Aggies tomorrow at 2:05 p.m. The loss drops ACU to 23-19 on the season and 15-13 in South Division play while Cameron improved to 26-13 and 18-10 in league play.
“We kept hitting. We had so many balls that we hit hard and right at people tonight. We got to start that earlier and when we have guys in scoring position, to get those guys in,” said ACU head coach
Britt Bonneau as ACU left 13 runners on base. “They were able to get their guys in and that was the difference in the game to get that big cushion and we couldn't dig out of that hole.”
The Wildcats spotted Cameron an eight run lead as they scored two runs in the first one aided by the game's only error. Cameron platted four more runs in the top of the second with an Andrew Garcia two-RBI double and a single to right from Joe Halley.
Kris Carlson would stop the bleeding for ACU as he pitched two innings of relief allowing one run and striking out three.
Chay Lytle came on in the sixth and finished things out only allowing one hit.
The ACU comeback would begin in the fifth when with two outs when
Duncan Blades laced a two out single to center. That would be followed by a
Will Calhoun single to score Blades and would come around to score on Cameron's only error of the night after a JR Roland single pushed Calhoun and
Bryce Gerhardt home.
Cameron Watten would lead off the eighth with a home run to left field for one of two hits on the night.
The dramatic ninth would see ACU plate two more runs on a wild pitch and Watten's second hit of the night to score
Sky Valenzuela. However the rally would end on a line drive that saw the Aggie pitcher snag the ball at the last minute to close the game out and leave the tying run for ACU at the plate.
“We have to win. You can't lose,” said Bonneau. “That's the bottom line, we're in a position where we have to win. Starting to with tomorrow, we have to win to at least be tied with them and have the series. Anything can happen in a double-header and we have to come ready to get after it tomorrow.”
