ABILENE – After splitting on Saturday the ACU softball needed help to reach the Lone Star Conference Tournament, however a, 15-6 win in game two and a, 6-5 loss was not enough as the Wildcats needed help they didn't get ending their season against Tarleton State Saturday afternoon.
ACU finished their season at 28-27 and 11-10 in the LSC South while Tarleton State closed their season at 22-25-1 and 10-11 in league play. By virtue of a tie with Texas Woman's, who took two of three from Angelo State this weekend, earned the fourth and final spot in the LSC Tournament. TWU also took two of three from ACU giving them the tiebreaker and berth to next week's tournament.
In the final game ACU got an outstanding effort from a senior and freshman, both of each who has been solid all season for the Wildcats. Senior
Brittany Rexroat got solid run support as she crusied through the first four innings only allowing two runs on four hits. After a TexAnn home run Rexroat gave way to freshman Peyton Mosely who recorded the final two outs of the fifth.
After jumping out to an early 9-1 lead the Wildcats looked like they were going to roll to a run rule victory, which was exactly what they got; however, TSU made the Wildcats work for the victory in five innings.
A two out rally in the bottom of the fifth was capped off by a walk-off home run from
Megan Brigance. Brigance drilled a 2-1 pitch over the wall in left center scoring
Candice Miller and
Lyndi Smith.
Smith had an outstanding weekend for the Wildcats as she went 6-for-8 on Saturday with four runs scored.
The Wildcats fell behind early in game one, as a pair of errors allowed the TexAnns to jump in front 3-0 after the first inning and 6-0 after the third. That would be all TSU needed as a valiant ACU comeback fell short.
Starter
Shelby Hall was knocked out of the game in the third after allowing six runs (four earned) on eight hits. However, Mosely was able to come on in relief pitching five innings of one-hit ball striking out three.
Smith had three hits in the first game as well helping ACU mount their comeback including a home run off the scoreboard in the bottom of the seventh.
Missy Mendoza fell five hits shy of the single season hit record as she was held hitless in the final game finishing with 81 on the year. Mendoza did close out an outstanding conference season hitting over .500 against LSC South opponents and ranking near the top of nearly every offensive category.
Rexroat finished her ACU career winning five of her final seven starts to close out a 14-9 senior season record and a 3.89 ERA.
