NATCHITOCHES, La. – Friday was a tough night all around for Abilene Christian baseball on the mound and at the plate in a 9-1 loss to Northwestern State at the Demons' Brown-Stroud Field.
ACU, which piled up 35 runs in two games earlier this week vs. the Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils, were three-hit this evening by their infernal counterparts while surrendering nine runs on 12 hits and six walks. There were also three hit batsmen and five wild pitches accounted for by four Wildcat pitchers, starting with
Brock Barger, who struck out seven hitters in 5.1 innings pitched.
Unfortunately, Bargers' line additionally included several free passes and eight base hits, three of which went for extra bases.
The home team scored the game's opening run on a first-inning fielder's choice RBI and made it a 4-0 contest after two innings with Chaney Dodge, Kwan Adkins and David Fry all providing RBI. Northwestern State went on to tack on single runs in the fourth, fifth and seventh and received a two-run single from Caleb Ricca in the eighth.
ACU's first and only run came via zero hits in the third, and afterward couldn't get a runner past second base. Shortstop
Zach Smith drew a one-out walk, stole second and moved to third base on a Ridge Heisler wild pitch. Right fielder
Caleb Kyle then provided a fielder's choice RBI that made it a 4-1 score.
Heisler went on to one-hit the Wildcats with nine Ks for the remainder of his seven-inning / 105-pitch outing. He got
Dalon Farkas to ground out to third base for the final out of the third, and after allowing a leadoff single to
Riley Donahue to start the fourth inning, he retired the final 12 batters he faced.
Cullen McDonald pitched the eighth and ninth and gave up singles to center field by Smith and
Dalton Dunn. He finished the game by striking out the side in the ninth.
ACU and Northwestern State resume their series Saturday at 2 p.m.
