Baseball | 4/28/2016 12:17:00 PM
Stephen F. Austin (20-21, 8-13 Southland) vs. Abilene Christian (13-25, 8-13 Southland)
Crutcher Scott Field
Abilene, TX
How To Follow The Wildcats
Friday, April 29: Live Audio / Video l Live Stats
Saturday, April 30: Live Audio / Video l Live Stats
Sunday, May 1: Live Audio / Video l Live Stats
Starting Pitchers
Friday, April 29: RHP Garrett deMeyere (ACU) vs. Patrick Ledet (SFA)
Saturday, April 30: LHP Aaron Mason (ACU) vs. Erik Nouis (SFA)
Sunday, May 1: RHP Kyle Carroll (ACU) vs. Undecided (SFA)
ABILENE – The ACU Wildcats return to Southland Conference action this weekend when they host Stephen F. Austin in a three-game series at Crutcher Scott Field.
The series gets started Friday with a single game at 6 p.m., followed by a 2 p.m. game Saturday and the series final at 1 p.m. Sunday.
The Wildcats enter the series at 13-25 overall and 5-13 in Southland play, while the Lumberjacks are 20-21 and 8-13. ACU has lost back-to-back one-run games to Sam Houston State (2-1 in 13 innings last Sunday) and No. 14 Texas Tech (5-4 Wednesday night in Midland). The Wildcats are 1-5 in their last six one-run games and are 5-2 in those games this season.
ACU is led offensively by junior infielder Russell Crippen, who is hitting .328 on the season with a team-high three home runs to go along with 15 RBI. Braxton Wilks continues to lead the Wildcats – hitting .250 as a team – with 17 RBI, although he only has four RBI since April 2.
Senior catcher Alex Copeland is hitting .292 with eight RBI, while freshman shortstop Mark Pearson is at .276 with seven RBI.
The Wildcats' rotation this weekend should be its normal three of RHP Garrett deMeyere (2-6, 4.01 ERA) on Friday, followed by LHP Aaron Mason (5-3, 2.63 ERA) on Saturday and RHP Kyle Carroll (3-5, 3.31 ERA) in the series finale Sunday.
The Lumberjacks enter the series in Abilene having won four of their last five contests. Conner Fikes leads the club with a .381 batting average, while Garrett McMullen tops the team with eight home runs and 39 RBI to go along with a .343 batting average. Kyle Thronell is hitting .331 with six home runs and 34 RBI.
SFA is set to send LHP Patrick Ledet (4-1, 4.21 ERA) to the mound Friday, followed by RHP Erik Nouis (2-4, 4.39 ERA) on Saturday. Sunday's starter hasn't yet been determined.
