Live Audio (
102.7 FM /
acusports.com) I
Live Stats
ABILENE – The Abilene Christian University Wildcats open their first season as an NCAA Division I program this weekend with a three-game series against Arlington Baptist at Crutcher Scott Field.
The Wildcats will open the series Friday at 4 p.m., followed by a game Saturday at 1 p.m. and the series finale Sunday at 1 p.m.
The Wildcats are under the direction of head coach
Britt Bonneau, who enters his 18th season as the head coach with a record of 671-324-1. ACU?is 527-200-1 in 23 seasons at Crutcher Scott Field where the Wildcats will play 27 games this season.
Bonneau said sophomore transfer
Nate Cole will get the Opening Day start on the mound for the Wildcats and will be followed in the rotation sophomore transfer Garrett Demeyere on Saturday and then freshman left-hander
Austin Lambright on Sunday.
Cole made 13 starts last spring for a Cisco College squad that posted a 40-13 overall record and went 20-12 against the conference. As Cisco's ace, he won 10 games against zero losses and struck out 64 batters through 75.0 innings pitched. His ERA was a respectable 3.72.
Demeyere transferred to ACU from North Lake College where he played shortstop and was the team's closer in 2012 and 2013. In two seasons his ERA was a paltry 1.29.
A four-year varsity letterwinner, Lambright is an MVP and first team all-league selection for Friday Harbor High School, which sits 100 miles northwest of Seattle on the east coast of San Juan Island. Lambright pitched and played outfield for his team that finished 15-4 overall this season and 6-0 against the district. His pitching repertoire includes a high 80's fastball, breaking ball and change up.
The Wildcats feature 14 freshman in their first Division I season, and welcome in a total of 26 new players for the 2014 season. The returning players are led by senior infielders
Seth Spivey and
Kyle Giusti and pitcher
Brady Rodriguez, the team's longest-tenured Wildcat with three years of experience to his credit.
Spivey hit .314 with 32 RBI last season – mostly out of the leadoff spot – to earn all-Lone Star Conference honorable mention honors. Giusti – who changed his number from 10 in 2013 to 5 in 2014 – hit .358 with a .455 on-base pct. and 40 RBI?as a junior in 2013. He started 49 games at third base and was a first team all-LSC selection and first team NCAA?Division II?South Central all-region pick. Rodriguez ranked among LSC?leaders in 2013 in total appearances (30), ERA?(2.29), opposing batting average (.227) and saves (6). He finished the season 4-3 with 41 strikeouts and was a first team all-LSC and academic all-LSC?selection.
Not only will ACU?play Southland opponents in Lamar, Sam Houston State, Stephen F. Austin and Oral Roberts in conference games, the Wildcats will also see Central Arkansas on Feb. 21 when the Bears play in the Al Scott Memorial Classic. The Bears last season came within one win of claiming the Starkville Regional and moving on to the Super Regional round. UCA?was one of only two non-SEC teams in the country to beat Mississippi State (splitting six games), joining UCLA, which beat MSU in the College World Series championship series to claim the national title.
