ABILENE – The ACU softball team dropped its series finale with Incarnate Word Saturday afternoon at Poly Wells Field, as the Cardinals took an early lead and never looked back. UIW (4-23, 2-7 SLC) takes two-of-three from ACU (9-20, 2-10 SLC) to get the series win.
UIW's trend of the series was to score in the first inning. The Cardinals scored six times in the first inning during Friday's doubleheader, and got Saturday started with a three-run first inning off ACU starter
Samantha Bradley. The sophomore lasted 2.1 innings, allowing four earned runs on five hits. The Cardinals led 6-0 through three innings, scoring on a triple, a home run, a double, and an ACU error.
The 'Cats got on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning when
Katelyn Belch reached on a fielder's choice to second base. A throwing error moved the runners up after the run scored, and the Wildcats were trying to build a comeback. Freshman
Anna Grace Johnson tripled for the first time in her career in the home fifth, bringing home
Linsey Tomlinson and pinch runner
Taylor McCoy. Trailing 6-3, ACU was hoping to keep the comeback going.
The Wildcats left nine runners on base for the game, including seven through the first five innings. Incarnate Word starter Brett Coleman, who earned the win in game two Friday night, worked into and out of trouble multiple times to keep her team in front. ACU would lead off the seventh inning with a solo home run from
Blair Clayton, but it was not enough.
UIW tallied seven hits in the victory, while managed just five. Johnson's two RBI led the way, while five different players tallied a hit.
The Wildcats will continue their home stand next weekend against the McNeese Cowgirls, beginning with a doubleheader on Friday, April 5 at 3 p.m. The series concludes Saturday, April 6 with a single game set for 12 p.m.
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