Wildcats Lose Both Ends Of Doubleheader To Wonder Boys

ABILENE - It was a tough day on the diamond for the Abilene Christian Wildcats as they lost two games Saturday to Arkansas Tech at Crutcher Scott Field by scores of 6-2 - and what could be the final score of tomorrow's Super Bowl - 17-14.

The losses dropped ACU's early season record to 1-2, while the Wonder Boys improved to 2-1. The Wildcats will look to salvage a split of the four-game series Sunday at 1:35 p.m.

ATU's Aaron Luchterhand (1-0) pitched a seven-inning complete game in the first contest, scattering two runs on seven hits with five strikeouts. The Wildcats cut into the Wonder Boys' 2-0 lead with a run in the second on Ryan Luckie's infield single that scored Chuck Duarte, and then followed with two more hits that loaded the bases.

With the pressure on, Luchterhand got Tyler Eager to tap one back to the mound, which resulted in the second out at home plate, and then Tyler Schuetze ended the inning with a pop up to first base.

From there Luchterhand retired the next 10 Wildcats until Rodge Macy smacked a one-out double to right center. Macy would advance to third on a deep fly to right and score on an error by ATU shortstop Cesar Abreu.

Down 6-2, ACU got its leadoff hitter on in the ninth as Duncan Blades dropped a bunt single down the third-base line, but Luchterhand got a pop up, ground out and fly out in succession to give ATU its first win of the year.

Aaron Lambrix (0-1) started for ACU and gave up four runs - three earned - on four hits and five walks. Michael Curtis came on to pitch the sixth and surrendered two unearned runs due to a two-out throwing error by Macy, who was trying to catch Landon Sullins stealing second base from behind the plate.

Emmett Niland pitched a scoreless seventh and had a strikeout of Zach Thomas.

ATU first struck in the second inning on Thomas Biocic's homer to center field, which was promptly followed by a walk, hit and sacrifice fly from Thomas that made it a 2-0 game.

The Wonder Boys went on to load the bases in the third vs. Lambrix with one out and increased their lead to 3-1 on Biocic's fielder's choice RBI. Then in the fourth, a two-out error by Duarte at second base gave way to a fourth run.

Neither side had trouble scoring in the nightcap as the two clubs combined for 31 runs on 24 hits. There were also 18 walks, seven hit batters, six wild pitches, four errors and two balks that when all added up equaled a messy - yet exciting - 3 hour and 8 minute, seven-inning contest.

ACU scored the game's first run on Kyle Conwell's RBI ground ball to short, and then watched Arkansas Tech respond with a four-spot in the second followed by one more in the third and a combined 12 runs between the fourth and sixth innings. The Wonder Boys biggest hits included a three-run triple for Drew Stanton in the second, a bases-loaded double for Nick Wilder in the fourth that pushed their lead to 10-3, and consecutive two-run base knocks in the sixth from Abreu and Beaird.  

Arkansas Tech capped its scoring run with a RBI double off the bat of Sullins.

But for all the runs ACU allowed, its offense kept coming back and perhaps could have won the game if more than just one of their 14 hits went for extra bases. In fact, the Wildcats didn't record their first extra-base hit until there were two outs in the seventh when Blades (3-for-3, three runs, two RBI) blasted a shot off the center-field wall.

In the third, ACU scored both its runs that inning on hit by pitch and walk coupled with two wild pitches by starter Brandon Arata and an RBI groundout by Macy.

The Wildcats in the fourth scored three runs on three singles and two walks, and had the bases loaded when ATU brought in reliever Gino Spratley (1-0), who immediately got Duarte to line into an inning-ending double play at second base.

A second double play in the fifth squelched another potential Wildcats' rally in which they had already scored two runs on two hits and a walk combined with two errors and a double steal of second and home.

Even during their six-run sixth, the Wildcats were forced to settle for singles all the way through the lineup as they sent 11 men to the plate. The first four batters all singled, then a walk to Blades brought in the first run, which was followed by a sacrifice fly, error, and two more singles to right field.

Duarte led off the ninth with a hit by pitch, but was erased on the base paths by yet another double play. Blades was subsequently stranded at second base after Wilder struck out pinch hitter Mark Bailey to end the game.

Arkansas Tech 6, Abilene Christian 2 (Feb 04, 2012 at Abilene, TX) (Game 1)
------------------------------