Abilene - The ACU softball team dropped both games of a Sunday doubleheader against eighth-ranked Baylor at Wells Field, falling by the scores of 3-0 and 13-2.
Hannah Null tossed a compete-game effort in the first game, but was out-dueled by Baylor starter Gia Rodoni, who limited ACU to just two hit while striking out four to improve to 5-0. The Bears then put up multiple runs in three innings of the second game to win in five innings via the run rule.
The Wildcats (4-7) return to action Friday at the 2018 Courtyard Marriott Tournament in Norman, Okla.
Game 1 – Baylor 3, Abilene Christian 0
The Bears collected 10 hits off Null, but the Wildcat defense held Baylor to just three runs. Freshman
Briana Tijerina and senior
Braegan Hamilton each recorded one hit for the Wildcats.
The Lady Bears' lone runs came in the second inning when the first two batters singled. A sacrifice bunt moved both runners over setting up center fielder Jessie Scroggins to double up the middle scoring both runners. Kyla Walker then singled to left field, scoring Scroggins.
ACU's best chance to score came in the fourth inning when
Peyton Hedrick walked and went to second on a fielder's choice that saw freshman catcher
Kayla Keeling reach first. After
Holly Neese struck out for the second out,
Brianna Barnhill walked to load the bases. But Braegen Hamilton grounded out to shortstop to end the inning as the Wildcats left the bases loaded.
ACU put two runners on bas in the fifth with two outs, but Rodoni got
Peyton Hedrick to strike out swinging to end the inning.
Game 2 – Baylor 13, Abilene Christian 2
Baylor catcher Carlee Wallace hit for the cycle and drove in six runs to power the Lady Bears to the run-rule victory. Wallace singled up the middle to drive in a run in the first, tripled to right field to drive in three more runs, doubled in the fourth and then hit a two-run home run in the fifth.
Donelle Johnson had a home run in the first inning for ACU and then scored in the bottom of the fifth on a wild pitch, tallying both runs for the Wildcats.
Transfer pitcher
Shelby Craig was tabbed with the loss for ACU after tossing 1 1/3 innings and giving up four runs. Freshman Callie Burris came in to relieve Craig, throwing three innings and striking out one Baylor batter. Null ended the game for the Wildcats throwing 2/3 innings and giving up one hit.
