Palmer Three-Hits Tarleton State In 6-1 ACU Win

ABILENE - Junior Austin Palmer captured his first victory of 2012 behind a three-hit, 8.0 inning effort vs. Tarleton State in the Sunday night finale of the ACU/Whitten Inn Classic. The Wildcats won the game 6-1, which snapped a two-game losing streak and completed their season-opening 18-game homestand at 11-7.

The Texans, which won their first two games of this weekend's round-robin tournament, leave Crutcher Scott Field at 6-6.

Palmer was just a little shaky to start the game as he walked three through the first two innings, the first of which scored on a two-out first inning-double by Blake Silguero that gave Tarleton its first and only lead of the night at 1-0.

Palmer walked two in the second and surrendered a hit in third, but was close to perfect the rest of the way as he retired the side in order in four of his last five innings. His lone blemish late in the game was a two-out double off the bat of Garrett Hardey, who was left stranded at third when Jonathan Schmitz struck out looking to end the sixth.

Palmer finished the game with five strikeouts, and after 108 pitches, turned the game over to Josh Stone who pitched a 1-2-3 ninth with one punch out.

Down 1-0 to begin the game, ACU's offense quickly went to work against Texan starter Joseph Aquino (0-2) and scored three runs against him in the first plus one more in the second.

Travis Schuetze scored the game-tying run on a wild pitch after advancing to third on Tyler Eager's single through the right side. Eager scored two batter later on Duncan Blades' RBI double, and Rodge Macy came around to score on Mike Keegan's ground ball to short.

A pair of infield errors helped pad ACU's lead to 4-1. Luke Mejia led off reaching on the second baseman's fielding error, and one out later, safely made it to third after Texan third baseman Ethan Stuckly threw the ball wide of second base on a potential double play. Mejia then scored easily on Schuetze's RBI ground out.

Aquino began the fifth - his final inning - by allowing the first three Wildcats to reach base via hit-by-pitch, single and walk. Eager made it a 5-1 game, driving in Schuetze from second on a single to right. Keegan then plated Eager with his second RBI ground out.

Eager led all Wildcats with two hits, and tied Schuetze for the most runs with two. 

Kenneth Stockton and Britt Robertshaw finished the game for Tarleton State, combining for 4.0 innings in which they allowed just three hits and struck out two.

ACU returns to action Saturday, March 10 for a doubleheader at Delta State.

The Wildcats return home the weekend of March 23 - 25 for a three-game Lone Star Conference series vs. Texas A&M-Kingsville.

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Abilene Christian 6, Tarleton State 1 (Mar 04, 2012 at Abilene, TX)
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