Wildcats win second straight to start season with 4-2 victory

Saturday, February 15

Abilene

1 p.m.

Abilene Christian

2-0

Arlington Baptist

3-3

Arlington Baptist

Abilene Christian

Photo by: Jeremy Enlow

Wildcats win second straight to start season with 4-2 victory

2/15/2014 5:59:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Lance Fleming, SID

ABILENE -- Freshman shortstop Aaron Draper had three hits and an RBI Saturday afternoon to lead ACU to a 4-2 win over Arlington Baptist in non-conference college baseball action at Crutcher Scott Field.

The Wildcats are 2-0 on the season and will take on the Patriots (3-3) in the series finale Sunday at 1 p.m.

The Wildcats scored two runs in the first, but put the eventual game-winning run up in the second inning. With one out, Taylor Waters singled, stole second and went to third on a groundout to second base by Seth Spivey. Draper then singled to drive in Waters to make it 3-0.

The Wildcats tacked on an unearned run in the fourth inning to make it 4-0 when Russell Crippen reached on an error, stole second, went to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on an RBI single to left field by Brandon Grudzielanek.

Arlington Baptist -- which stranded eight baserunners in the game -- threatened in the first, third, fifth and sixth innings before putting up runs in the eighth and ninth innings. The Patriots cut the ACU lead to 4-1 in the eighth with an RBI single by Ryan Wagley.

ACU closer Kevin Sheets gave up a run in the ninth, but go out of the inning without further damage to pick up his first save of the season.

The Wildcats got on the board in the first inning with a two-run single by third baseman Kyle Giusti, plating Spivey and Draper on the hit.

Sophomore righthander Garrett Demeyere went gave up just four hits in six scoreless innings to pick up the win for the Wildcats. Demeyere struck out five Patriots and walked just one in the second straight solid starting pitching performance for the Wildcats.