Wildcats set to host Huskies in three-game Southland series

Baseball | 4/7/2016 3:06:00 PM

Abilene Christian (10-17, 2-7 Southland) vs. Houston Baptist (14-14, 5-4 Southland)
Crutcher Scott Field (4,500)
Abilene, TX
 
Friday, April 8 (6 p.m.): Audio l Live Stats
Saturday, April 9 (6 p.m.): Audio / Video l Live Stats
Sunday, April 10 (1 p.m.): Audio / Video l Live Stats
 
Starting Pitchers
Friday: RHP Garrett deMeyere (ACU) vs. RHP Addison Russ (HBU)
Saturday: LHP Aaron Mason (ACU) vs. RHP Julian Griego (HBU)
Saturday: RHP Kyle Carroll (ACU) or RHP Drew Hanson (ACU) vs. RHP Zach Carter (HBU) or LHP Christian Thames (HBU)

ABILENE – The ACU Wildcats return to  Southland Conference action this weekend when they host last year's surprise conference tournament champion, Houston Baptist, in a three-game set at Crutcher Scott Field.

The Wildcats were swept last weekend in a non-conference series against league foe Lamar to fall to 10-17 overall. ACU takes a 2-7 conference record into this weekend's series against the Huskies. ACU enters the weekend series having lost 10 of its last 11 games to fall from 9-7 to 10-17 on the season.

The Huskies, meanwhile, enter the series at 14-14 overall and 5-4 in league play. Houston Baptist enters the series against ACU having won four of its last five games, including taking two  of three from Incarnate Word last weekend.

The Wildcats are led by senior catcher Alex Copeland, who is hitting .315 with five doubles, six RBIs and 13 runs, while Russell Crippen is hitting .313 with six doubles, two home runs, 11 RBIs and 13 runs. Braxton Wilks leads the Wildcats with 15 RBIs and Hunter Markwardt has eight stolen bases and 12 runs.

The Wildcats are expected to send RHP Garrett deMeyere (2-4, 4.39 ERA), LHP Aaron Mason (3-2, 3.82 ERA) and either RHP Kyle Carroll (2-4, 4.36 ERA) or RHP Drew Hanson (1-2, 5.96 ERA) to the mound in the three games of the series.

For HBU, shortstop Louie Payetta is hitting .312 with a six doubles, a team-leading 15 RBIs and 13 runs for the Huskies, while second baseman Greg Espinosa is hitting .288 with five doubles, a triple, 11 RBIs and a team-leading 16 runs. Junior third baseman Austin Zillweger has an eight-game hitting streak to raise his average to .283 with three doubles, five RBIs and nine runs, while outfielder Zane Otten has reached safely in nine straight and is hitting .278 and leads HBU with six stolen bases.

HBU will likely send RHPs Addison Russ (4-2, 2.32 ERA) and Julian Griego (1-3, 3.98 ERA) and either Zach Carter (0-1, 3.10 ERA) or junior lefthander Christian Thames (1-3, 3.98 ERA) to the mound.

The all-time series between HBU and ACU is tied, 3-3, with the Wildcats taking 2 of 3 last season and the Huskies claiming 2 of 3 in 2014. Both series were played in Houston.