ABILENE – Dallas Baptist opened up a close game with seven straight runs late in the game Tuesday as the Patriots knocked off ACU, 11-7, in a non-conference baseball game at Crutcher Scott Field.
The Wildcats and Patriots were tied 4-4 before the Patriots scored twice in the sixth, twice in the seventh and twice in the eighth to take a 10-4 lead on their way to their seventh straight victory. The Wildcats are now 11-26 overall and will play Baker (Kan.) University at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Emporia, Kan., before three games this weekend against Kansas State in Manhattan, Kan.
ACU got on top with two runs in the bottom of the first on an RBI single by
Luis Trevino and as a squeeze bunt by
Anthony Dominguez, who drove in
Derek Scott to make ti 2-0. DBU scored once in the second off starting pitcher
Brandon Lambright and added two more in the fourth against reliever
Nick Skeffington to take a 3-2 lead.
After DBU scored again in the fifth to take a 4-2 lead, the Wildcats got the game tied with two runs in the fifth when Scott drove in a run with a single to left field and then tied it when Crippen scored on an error by the left fielder.
But the Patriots busted the game open with seven straight runs over their next three at-bats to turn the tie game into a bit of a runaway. DBU's 3-4-5 hitters – Austin Listi, Devlin Granberg and Evan Sandmann – combined to go 8 for 15 with seven runs scored and a pair of RBI in the game. Every DBU player had a hit as the Patriots racked up 17 hits in the game.
ACU scored three times in the bottom of the ninth with two coming home on a two-run home run to right field by Crippen, his seventh of the season.
