ABILENE – Abilene Christian's 12-2 softball team earned its first national ranking of the season earlier this week after cracking the National Fastpitch Coaches Association poll at No. 25, and will begin defense of that recognition with a three-game series this weekend at Incarnate Word.
The Cardinals, who shared the Lone Start Conference South Division title with Angelo State in 2011, are off to an 8-4 start and receiving votes in this week's NFCA poll. LSC Preseason Pitcher of the Year Briana Sanchez leads the Incarnate Word pitching staff with a 5-1 record complete with a 2.59 ERA and 56 strikeouts.
Offensively, six of the Cardinals' everyday starters are hitting .300 or better led by Ashley Freeman's .513 (20 for 39) batting average, and Monica Acuna's three home runs and nine RBI.
The Wildcats, meanwhile, are coming off a great weekend at the Texas Woman's tournament, in which they won their first four games over Central Missouri, Texas-Permian Basin, Texas A&M-International, and St. Edward's before losing on the final day, 8-3, to Pittsburg State.
ACU's loss to the Gorillas was its first since Opening Day, snapping a 12-game win streak.
Wildcat pitchers combined for a 1.85 ERA and .206 opponents' batting average while competing in Denton, Texas. Junior
Caitlyn Crain went 2-0 through three appearances with 13 strikeouts and a 0.00 ERA, which included a complete game shutout of St. Edward's.
Crain's season ERA of 1.26 is tops in the Lone Star Conference as of games played Feb. 27.
Shelby Hall also won her lone start vs. the Dustdevils, while
Peyton Mosley went 1-1 with seven strikeouts against the Jennies and Gorillas.
Four Wildcats hit .333 or better over the weekend, including
Kimberly Briggs and
Lyndi Smith who each hit .357. Briggs also led the Wildcats with six RBI, and stole four bases on five attempts.
Megan Brigance delivered her second home run of the year in the loss to Pittsburg State, in addition to driving in five RBI.
Keanna Winkfield scored seven runs and stole five bases in raising her season totals in these categories to 16 and nine, respectively.
Schedule Note
ACU softball's doubleheader vs. Texas-Permian Basin scheduled for Tuesday, March 6 has been postponed. Wildcat fans can keep up-to-date on all schedule changes by following ACU Sports on Facebook and Twitter.
