Softball doubles up Tennessee Tech, 10-5

STILLWATER, Okla. - Abilene Christian softball swept a two-game season series from Tennessee Tech and left Oklahoma State's Mizuno Classic with a 3-2 record following the Wildcats 10-5 victory over the Golden Eagles Sunday morning at Cowgirl Stadium.

The Wildcats (10-11) hit three home runs today to give them seven for the weekend and 17 on the season. Juniors Peyton Hedrick and Brianna Barnhill went back-to-back during the Wildcats' five-run third, and senior Casey-May Huff crushed a three-run blast to left field during a four-run fifth inning.

Hedrick shined at the plate this weekend, going 7-for-18 (.389) with four home runs, eight RBI, five runs and two stolen bases, and Huff was one of five everyday starters to hit over .300. Hedrick now leads the team in the triple-crown categories (.369-7-21) and Barnhill isn't far behind with 19 RBI, six of which were driven in this weekend against the Golden Eagles, Cowgirls and Northern Iowa Panthers.

ACU started this game down a run but grabbed the lead for good as the round-trippers from Hedrick and Barnhill followed a two-run single by left fielder Braegan Hamilton. The Golden Eagles scratched out another run in the fourth to make it a 5-2 game only to see the Wildcats send eight batters to the plate during their four-run fifth. Holly Neese drove in Hamilton for the inning's first run and Huff cleared the bases with her third home run of the spring. 

The Wildcats would tack on an insurance run in the sixth with Taylor Brown scoring on a wild pitch. Brown scored seven times at the Mizuno Classic, tying her with Hedrick for the team lead with 17 runs. 

Freshman Sidney Holman started for ACU and picked up her second win of the weekend (sixth of the season) despite tossing 129 pitching across 7.0 non-consecutive innings. Holman gave up two earned runs through the fist four innings, and was lifted in favor of redshirt junior Hannah Null to start the fifth with the Wildcats ahead 9-2. Null, unfortunately, did not retire any of the three batters she faced, and the coaching staff opted to put Holman back in the circle after leadoff hitter Aalia Bivens smacked a three-run home run against Null to left-center field.

Tennessee Tech went on to load the bases against Holman in the fifth but couldn't push anything across as she ended the frame with a ground ball to short. She then stranded four runners on base between the sixth and seventh innings.

ACU returns home Tuesday for a 6 p.m. game vs. Texas Tech. The Wildcats will then welcome Southeastern Louisiana for its Southland Conference opener next weekend, March 10 and 11. ACU will play a 5 p.m. / 7 p.m. vs. the Lady Lions Friday and a single game Saturday starting at 12 p.m.