ACU vs. Southeastern La.: Live Stats (
G1,
G2,
G3) |
Live Video (Friday only)
ABILENE – Abilene Christian softball begins its 2017 Southland Conference season at home against Southeastern Louisiana for the third consecutive season. The Wildcats are 4-2 all time vs. the Lady Lions, which includes last spring's sweep in Hammond, La., where ACU won by scores of 7-3, 6-5, and 13-2.
The Wildcats (10-12) and Lady Lions (9-11) begin their three-game series Friday with a 5 p.m. doubleheader and conclude it Saturday at noon. There is currently a 30-40 percent chance for thunderstorms this weekend in the Big Country.
Live stats will be offered for all three games, and there will be an accompanying video stream for Friday's twin bill.
Mary Kate Rotenberry will be handling the play-by-play.
ACU is coming off a 2-1 loss to Texas Tech Tuesday night. The Wildcats recorded five hits and drew four free passes, but ended up leaving several runners stranded on base as the Red Raiders made the most of a first-inning home run by Jessica Hartwell and a two errors that led to Raina O'Neal's sixth-inning RBI single.
Peyton Hedrick got her team on the board, scoring on
Holly Neese's ground ball to second base in the bottom of the sixth, but the Wildcats couldn't get
Brianna Barnhill in from third base with one out. ACU also left the bases loaded in the fifth despite starting the inning with three walks.
Hannah Null and
Sidney Holman each pitched well vs. the Red Raiders and combined for six strikeouts. Null started and allowed just three hits, including Hartwell's home run, while Holman surrendered just one hit and one walk as the run scored against her was unearned. Tuesday night's performances dropped ACU's team ERA to 2.92.
The Lady Lions were last in action this past weekend in Knoxville, Tenn., for the UT Volunteer Classic. Southeastern Louisiana went 1-4 at the tournament with its lone victory a 9-1 decision over Delaware. Its losses were to Ohio, Tennessee, Jacksonville State and Bradley.
Southeastern is hitting .259 as a team led by Carlie Whittington's .462 batting average, and its team ERA stands at 3.62 as seven different pitchers have taken turns in the circle this spring. Lacey Hill is the Lady Lions' ace with four wins, 28 Ks, and 2.79 ERA.
