WICHITA FALLS – Just one day after a pair of solid wins at the Courtyard by Marriott Classic, the 23rd-ranked ACU Wildcats suffered a pair of heartbreaking defeats Saturday at Mustang Field.
The Wildcats lost both games in eight innings, falling 6-5 early Saturday evening to No. 13 Emporia State (Kan.), and the dropping a 3-2 decision late Saturday night to St. Mary's.
ACU (12-8 on the season) will be back in action Sunday at 11 a.m. against Northeastern State in its final game of the tournament.
In the nightcap loss, the teams went to extra innings tied at 2-2 and the Wildcats failed to get their runner to the plate, despite having
Keanna Winkfield at third base with only one out. But
Courtney Flanary fouled out to the catcher and
Lyndi Smith grounded back to the pitcher for the third out to set up the bottom of the eighth for the Lady Rattlers.
With Nicole Sardelich at third and one out, Jared Gonzelz and Christina Rodriguez were walked to set up a force at the plate. ACU pitcher
Caitlyn Crain had a 1-2 count on Taylor Vidrine, but hit her with the 1-2 pitch to drive in Sardelich with the game-winning run.
Crain -- who picked up the loss to fall to 6-3 -- went 7 1/3 innings, allowing just five hits and three runs while striking out six Lady Rattlers.
Heather Peacock drove in both of ACU's runs in the game with a two-run single in the fourth that gave ACU a 2-1 lead.
In the earlier loss to Emporia State, the Wildcats surrendered early leads of 3-0 and 4-2 as the Lady Hornets came back to avenge ACU's win between the two teams on Friday.
After ACU got the game tied at 5-5 with a run in the bottom of the fourth, the teams went to the international tiebreaker in the eighth inning. With one out and Reichard at third, ACU pitcher
Peyton Mosley uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Reichard to score the go-ahead run.
In the bottom of the eighth, ACU's runner –
Lyndi Smith – was placed at second, but was erased on a double play ball hit by Peacock. After a
Cara Hoover walk, pinch-hitter
Adelaid Oun struck out to end the game.
Mosley scattered nine hits over eight innings and walked three while striking out four batters. She took the loss to fall to 2-4 on the year.
