ABILENE – The pitching of
Case Rolen and two big innings were more than enough Saturday afternoon for the ACU Wildcats to knock off North Dakota State, 9-1, at Crutcher Scott Field to clinch the series victory over the Bison.
Rolen and reliever
Keaton Brewer put together ACU's second straight solid performance on the mound to lead the Wildcats to their second straight victory. Offensively, the Wildcats broke a 1-1 tie with a three-run sixth inning and then put the game away with a five-run eighth inning. North Dakota State contributed to its demise with three errors that led to four unearned runs.
The Wildcats are now 2-4 on the season, while the Bison fall to 4-2.
KEY INNING
The Bison and Wildcats were tied 1-1 going the sixth when ACU finally got its offense clicking by scoring three runs on one hit and taking advantage of a couple of North Dakota State errors. With two outs and the bases loaded,
Dalon Farkas singled up the middle drive in a pair of runs and give ACU a lead it would not relinquish.
Leading 4-1 going to the eighth inning, the Wildcats put together five runs on four hits.
Luis Trevino drove in a run with a sacrifice fly before
Russell Crippen drove in a run with a double.
Hillin Warren later scored on a wild pitch before
Derek Scott drove in a run with a double and
Mark Pearson drove in a run with an RBI groundout.
ON THE MOUND
Rolen (1-0) put together the best starting pitching performance of the short ACU season as he went six innings, allowing just three hits and one run while walking three and striking out three Bison. He gave up one run in the second inning, but stranded three runners on base by coaxing a one-out foul popout and a groundout.
He didn't allow another runner to reach third base and escaped a bit of a jam in the top of the fifth when he got a pair of two-out groundball outs with a runner on second. He then retired the side in order in the sixth in his final inning of work.
Keaton Brewer took over and threw three innings of scoreless relief to pick up his first save of the season.
AT THE PLATE
Farkas and Crippen each had two hits for the Wildcats with Farkas driving in a pair of runs – both with an RBI single in the sixth inning – and Crippen with an RBI double. The top seven batters in the Wildcats' lineup were a combined 8 for 25 in the game (.320 batting average).
NOTABLE
• ACU first baseman
Koby Claborn set a program single-game record by drawing four walks in the game. He ended the game with no official plate appearances.
• Sophomore centerfielder
Derek Scott upped his average to .217 on the season after posting a 1 for 4 day on Saturday. Scott is 4 for 11 in the Wildcats' last three games (.364) and has two doubles already after collecting just three all of last season.
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Russell Crippen is off to a blistering start at the plate, hitting .440 on the year (11 for 25) with three doubles, one home run and five RBI in six games. He was ACU's RBI leader last year with just 19 in 51 games.
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Luis Trevino drove in another run Saturday with a sacrifice fly, giving him seven RBI on the season to go along with his team-high .455 batting average.
NEXT GAME
The Wildcats and Bison will wrap up the three-game series Sunday with a 1 p.m. contest that will be broadcast on 98.1 FM The Ticket.
