HOUSTON – Abilene Christian baseball totaled 21 runs in game one, and one in game two during its doubleheader split Friday at Houston Baptist's Husky Field with the one offensive constant being senior outfielder
Dalon Farkas, who homered in both games.
A native of Milton, Ga., Farkas was one of 12 Wildcats to record a hit in the Wildcats' 21-6 triumph to begin the day, and in the night cap he broke up Brady Batten's shutout bid with an eighth-inning home run. The round-trippers were the first this season for Farkas and the ninth and 10th of his three-year Wildcat career.
Farkas led off and played both corner outfield positions, collecting three hits, three runs and three RBI through 10 plate appearances vs. the Huskies (11-23, 4-10). He started the first game 0-for-2 but singled and scored a run during the Wildcats' six-run fifth inning that expanded ACU's lead from two to eight runs, and two at-bats later the accounting / financial management double major crushed a three-run shot over the left field wall to cap a seven-run frame.
Everyone in the starting lineup – and three substitutes – recorded at least one base hit, while six starters finished with multi-hit performances. Catcher
Luis Trevino batted behind Farkas and went 3-for-6 with two runs and two RBI as did senior center fielder
Derek Scott, while designated hitter
Riley Donahue totaled for three runs and three RBI on two hits and two walks. Further down the lineup card shortstop
Dalton Dunn tied a team single-game record (DI era) with four runs scored.
Dunn reached base all five times in game one, and his replacement
Michael Herrera contributed to a three-run ninth in which the coaching staff utilized six pinch hitters. Four of the reserves reached base, including catcher
Matthew Nerz who delivered the game's final run with a RBI infield single.
ACU starting pitcher
Spencer Chirpich (3K, 91 pitches) was the beneficiary of 16 runs posted during his 5.0-inning outing. He was followed to the mound by
Mark Geisel (1.0 IP) and midweek starter
Drew Hanson who was credited with his first save of the season for pitching 3.0 scoreless frames to end the game. Hanson faced 10 batters, allowed one hit, and struck out three.
Unfortunately for ACU, the offensive fireworks did not continue into game two as Batten struck out seven in 7.1 innings of work, scattering four hits and four walks.
The Wildcats didn't get more than two runners on base until the seventh inning, and when they did load the bases with two outs trailing 3-0, Batten was able to get catcher
Lane Bourland looking at strike three. The next inning, Farkas hit the one-out solo home run and Trevino walked so HBU turned to closer J.T. Newton who got Scott tor ground into an inning-ending double play.
The Huskies' offense then padded its lead with two insurance runs off the bat of Hayden Baker, who struck a two-run single with two outs off
Brennan Lewis that made it a 5-1 game.
Brock Barger (2-4) took the loss for ACU as he gave up three runs on four hits and two walks with four strikeouts.
The Wildcats and Huskies are slated to conclude their series Saturday at 1 p.m. with rain in the forecast.
