SAN MARCOS, Texas - Senior third baseman
Casey-May Huff cracked two home runs and freshman hurler
Sidney Holman authored an 11-strikeout complete game in leading Abilene Christian softball to a 3-1 win over Iowa Sunday morning at Texas State's Bobcat Field.
Holman retired the first five batters she faced until giving up a two-out single to second baseman Claire Fritsch, who then stole second base and scored Iowa's lone run on a single up the middle by Angela Schmiederer.
The Wildcats did not stay down for long as they answered with a run in their half of the second. Junior second baseman
Holly Neese led off with a single vs. starter Taylor MaKowsky and scored five batters later on a bases-loaded hit by pitch with junior first baseman
Brianna Barnhill at the plate.
ACU took the lead for good on Huff's fourth-inning blast down the left field line and went ahead 3-1 after the Calgary native took reliever Elizabeth Wiegand deep to begin the sixth.Â
Only two Hawkeyes reached base vs. Holman past the second inning with designated player Brooke Rozier (E4) and Fritsch (BB) getting aboard in the fourth. But Holman escaped that two-on, one-out jam with back-to-back Ks of Schmiederer and McKenzie Schneider as she retired the last 11 batters she faced – seven by strikeout.
Holman tossed 111 pitches, and allowed just three hits and one walk.
Neese, Huff and catcher
Kaleigh Singleton were responsible for six of ACU's seven base hits.Â
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Game 2 – Texas State 8, ACU 3
Peyton Hedrick and
Holly Neese smashed back-to-back first inning home runs vs. Sun Belt Preseason Pitcher of Year Randi Rupp, but the Bobcats quickly answered on offense with seven consecutive runs en route to an 8-3 victory.
Texas State jumped into the lead on a first-inning grand slam by Taylor Webb, then added a sacrifice fly in the second, plus two RBI in the third.Â
ACU cut its deficit to four runs on
Brianna Barnhill's infield single that plated
Holly Neese, but the Bobcats got that run right back in their half of the fourth with Webb's base knock through the left side.
Hannah Null (1-2) was saddled with the loss even though only one of the five runs she allowed was earned. She was followed to the circle by freshman
Krystian Osbourn, who surrendered two runs on one hit and two walks in her collegiate debut.
Casey-May Huff tossed the final 3.2 innings, giving up one run on two hits and five walks.
Rupp improved to 2-1 with the victory. She struck out five in 4.0 innings of work, and two Bobcat relievers combined to toss 3.0 scoreless frames with three strikeouts.
ACU's tournament season continues next weekend with a trip to Tucson, Ariz., where the Wildcats will face Boston College, Arizona, Ball State, North Dakota State, and Drake.
