SAN ANTONIO – The Wildcats once again punished the Incarnate Word pitching staff, collecting 13 base hits in Saturday's 6-1 victory that gave Abilene Christian its fourth series sweep of the Southland Conference season.
Peyton Hedrick went 4-for-4 with two runs, two RBI and three doubles that tied the school's single-game record, while
Taylor Brown set the varsity record for most career runs scored with 150.
A four-year starter, Brown owns three varsity records as her two runs from today's 2-for-4 performance at the plate lifted her career total to 150, breaking Katie Bryan's previous record of 148 that she accumulated between 2002 and 2005. Brown also is the school's all-time leader with 25 triples and 53 stolen bases.
The Wildcats' consummate leadoff hitter totaled 36 runs as a freshman, 44 as a sophomore, 32 last season and 38 this season after coming home on two of Hedrick's three doubles. Brown led off today's game with a single through the right side and scored all the way from first base on Hedrick's two-bagger to left field. She then made it a 5-0 game in the sixth, scoring on Hedrick's third and final double to the wall in center field.
Hedrick's three doubles tied the school's single-game record first set by Katie Cornelison in March of 2008 vs. Texas A&M-Kingsville. Last season Hedrick tied her own school record with two home runs in a game vs. Houston Baptist, and in 2015 she set the ACU record for most triples with three vs. Hardin-Simmons University. Today additionally marked her third four-hit game with the Wildcats as it was her first since April 10, 2015 when she went 4-for-4 with three runs, four RBI and two home runs vs. Stephen F. Austin.
Hedrick also scored two runs vs. UIW as the three batters behind her –
Brianna Barnhill,
Holly Neese and
Braegan Hamilton – went a combined 6-for-11 with two runs, a double and three RBI. Neese made it a 3-0 game in the first with her two-run single to left, and added a RBI double in the sixth for the Wildcats' final run of the game.
ACU's four-run first inning chased UIW started Jessica Rodriguez from the game, but it was already too late for the Cardinals as Wildcat freshman
Sidney Holman flirted with a one-hit shutout until giving up a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the seventh. Holman whiffed five batters in raising her season strikeout total to 131 while her ERA dropped to 1.85. The Belton, Texas native now has 17 wins on the season and 10 complete games.
Holman sat down the first eight batters she faced before giving up an infield single to Kellen Robles. She then handled a comebacker to the circle to begin a second retired hitters streak that lasted 10 batters. Victoria Bratcher led off the seventh with a single through the left side, and scored following a steal of second base on Alex Alonzo's hit back up the middle.
Friday starter Bridget Stein finished the game for the Cardinals', giving up two runs (one earned) on nine hits and a walk through 6.0 innings.
Today's win was ACU's 26th of the season, which matches last year's season total, and lifted the Wildcats' conference mark to 15-3 keeping them in a three-way chase for the regular-season title. The Wildcats currently are a half game behind McNeese (15-2) in the standings. The Cowgirls doubled up the Colonels in game one, 8-4, and lead 5-3 in the fifth inning of game two.
The Wildcats return to action Wednesday for a 6 p.m. home game vs. North Texas and are back on the road next weekend at Sam Houston State. The Wildcats and Bearkats are slated to play a doubleheader Friday at 3 p.m. and a single game Saturday at 3 p.m.
