SAN MARCOS, Texas - Junior first baseman
Brianna Barnhill counted a three-run home run among her two base hits, and pitcher
Hannah Null tossed 6.1 scoreless innings Saturday as Abilene Christian softball split its doubleheader vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Texas Tech at Texas State's Bobcat Stadium.
The Wildcats rolled past the Islanders (0-3) in game one, 10-0, in five-innings with Barnhill's bomb providing enough support for a five-inning run-rule victory. In the nightcap, however, ACU was limited to four hits in a 3-0 loss to the Red Raiders (3-1), dropping their record to 2-2.
ACU will conclude its stay at the CenturyLink Classic Sunday with rematches vs. Iowa (10 a.m.) and the Bobcats (2 p.m.).
GAME 1 – ACU 10, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 0 (5 inn.)
Hannah Null tossed a two-hit, complete game shutout and received all the run support she would need during a six-run second inning for the Wildcats as they teed off on Islander starter Kandace Johnson for the better part of 4.0 innings.
ACU sent 11 batters to the plate that frame with senior center fielder
Taylor Brown delivering a two-run double to center followed by a bases-loaded walk to shortstop
Peyton Hedrick that made it a 4-0 game. Then with two outs, both Brown and right fielder
Alli Spivey came around to score on a fielding error by second baseman Megan Mitchell.
The Wildcats recorded a second offensive outburst in the fourth inning, scoring four times on four hits, including Barnhill's two-out blast.
Null faced only 10 batters through the first three frames and escaped a two-out jam in the fourth with runners in scoring position by getting first baseman Liz Carter to ground out to Hedrick at short. The Islanders threatened once more in the fifth by putting their first two runners aboard, but Null got two fly outs and a ground ball to
Casey-May Huff at third to end the game.
Huff led the Wildcats with two hits vs. the Islanders and scored two runs with a fourth-inning RBI.
GAME 2 – Texas Tech 3, ACU 0
Red Raider Kassidy Scott outdueled ACU freshman
Sidney Holman with a four-hit, four-strikeout complete game effort that was backed by a two-run home run by left fielder Raina O'Neal.
O'Neal's blast broke a scoreless tie and came shortly after the Wildcats had a run taken off the board in their half of the fourth inning. ACU briefly appeared to have taken a 1-0 lead, but
Alli Spivey was ruled out at home plate following
Braegan Hamilton's ground ball to third base. Scott then retired
Casey-May Huff for the final out with runners still aboard first and second base.
The Wildcats threatened once more in the fifth inning, trailing 2-0, but pinch runner
Mackenzie Thornton and Barnhill were left stranded at the corners as Scott whiffed
Taylor Brown and Spivey was retired on a batter's interference call.
Texas Tech added an insurance run in the fifth when Kiana Workman drilled a solo home run to left off Holman to make it a 3-0 game. Null then came into pitch to the final six batters of the game, tossing 1.1 scoreless innings with two walks and a strikeout of Brittany Warnecke.
Holman finished with 4.2 innings of work with six strikeouts and two walks.
