ABILENE –
Mark Bailey's two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the eighth inning Friday was the difference in the ACU Wildcats' 6-5 win over East Central in the opening game of a four-game non-conference college baseball series at Crutcher Scott Field.
The win pushes the Wildcats to 9-3 on the season, while the Tigers fall to 8-7. The two teams will play a doubleheader Saturday at 2:05 p.m. with the series finale set for 1:35 p.m. Sunday.
ACU led 2-0 Friday night until the Tigers pushed across two runs in the fifth and then took the lead with three runs in the sixth.
The Wildcats pulled to within 5-4 with two runs in the bottom of the sixth. With one out,
Duncan Blades reached when he was hit by a pitch and then went to third on a
Chuck Duarte single. After a
Bryce Gerhardt strkeout,
Emmett Niland single to right field to drive in Blades and Duarte.
The Wildcat bullpen did its job in the seventh and eighth to keep it a one-run game until the Wildcat offense could get back on the board in the bottom of the eighth.
With one out, Duarte reached on an error, stole second and went to third on a Gerhardt single. Gerhardt then stole second before Niland grounded out for the second out of the inning.
But Bailey saved the Wildcats when he drove a 1-2 pitch through the right side to drive in the tying and go-ahead runs.
ACU closer
Josh Stone then came in to pitch the ninth and worked around a leadoff single and a wild pitch to get out of the inning unscathed and pick up his third save of the season.
ACU starting pitcher
Aaron Lambrix went 5 2/3 innings, allowing five runs (three earned) on four hits while striking out six.
Brady Rodriguez threw 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief to pick up the win and improve to 2-0.
Kyle Conwall drove in ACU's other two runs with a two-run home run to left-centerfield in the bottom of the first inning.
