ABILENE – Saturday night's Southland Conference baseball contest at Crutcher Scott Field was a nine-inning glimpse at the ACU Wildcats' entire season: solid pitching, but not enough offense in key situations equaled another stinging loss.
Saturday evening it was an eighth-inning leadoff home run by New Orleans centerfielder Chaz Boyer that was the difference as the Privateers evened the series against the Wildcats at one game apiece with a 1-0 win.
One night after ACU starting pitcher
Garrett deMeyere was brilliant in a complete-game victory (6-1) over the Privateers, the Wildcats turned to lefthander
Aaron Mason, and he delivered his own masterful performance in 8 1/3 innings of work. He allowed just the one run while scattering seven hits and striking four Privateers and not walking a batter.
He left in the top of the ninth with one on and one out, giving way to
Nick Palacios, who was able to wiggle out of a slight jam without giving up a run, keeping the game at 1-0 going to the bottom of the ninth.
The Wildcats had their chances to score all night, including the ninth inning.
With one out,
Austin Call doubled off the wall and pinch-runner
Chris Altimont went to third on a single by
Mark Pearson. Pinch-runner
Gunny Evans stole second to give ACU the tying and winning runs in scoring position.
However, freshman catcher
Hunter Hays looked at a called third strike and pinch-hitter
Braxton Wilks grounded back to the pitcher for the final out of the game, leaving those two runners stranded.
ACU left nine runners on base in the game, including one in the second, runners at first and second with one out in the fourth, runners at second and third with one out in the sixth, a runner at first in the seventh and a runner at third with two outs in the eighth inning.
Heath Beasley and Pearson were each 2 for 4 at the plate for the Wildcats.
