Box Score HUNTSVILLE – Abilene Christian junior first baseman
Riley Donahue hit a second-inning solo home run – his second of the spring – for the Wildcats' lone run in a 10-1 loss at Sam Houston State Thursday night. Donahue went 2-for-4 at the plate as ACU fell to 13-10 (2-8 Southland) on the season.
The score remained 1-0 in ACU's favor until the third when the Bearkats (18-7, 7-0 Southland) produced their first of three multi-run innings, scoring three times on three hits. The home team later went ahead 7-1 on catcher Jordan Cannon's fifth-inning grand slam and added three insurance runs in the seventh, with Ben Haefner driving in two on his double to right field.
Sam Houston utilized two pitchers this evening with Seth Ballew (1-1) winning the game behind 5.0 scoreless innings of relief, during which he allowed only one base hit – a ninth-inning single by
Dalon Farkas, which pushed his hitting streak to a team-best 15 games.
Hayden Wesneski started for the Bearkats and survived six base hits and a walk (on 61 pitches) through the first 4.0 innings. He stranded four runners on base, and finished the fourth with a double play after the Wildcats started with consecutive singles by Donahue and
Zach Smith. With one out and runners at first and second base,
Robert Salazar flew out to center field and Smith was thrown out by the shortstop trying to advance to third.
Ballew walked the first batter – catcher
Zack Mausser – he faced to start the fifth but went on to retire the next 12 hitters before surrendering the leadoff ninth inning single to Farkas.
ACU brought four pitchers to the mound, starting with
Brock Barger (2-2) who was charged with five runs on six hits and four walks. He was followed by
Briley Buckley (0.0 IP),
Brennan Lewis (2.2 IP) and
Logan Patterson (1.0). A freshman and native of Lubbock, Patterson struck out one batter and allowed one walk and a hit during his collegiate debut. He tossed 22 pitches.
The Wildcats and Bearkats continue their series Friday at 6:30 p.m. This game will be streamed on ESPN3.
