ABILENE – Get the lead. Give it up. Tie the game. Win it late. It was a wild Saturday at Poly Wells Field for the final game of the series between ACU and Stephen F. Austin. The Ladyjacks, who owned a seven-game winning streak coming in, looked as though they would have a comeback victory to improve to 30 wins.
Bobby Reeves' club had other ideas.
ACU (10-28, 3-18 SLC) trailed 5-2 in the sixth inning after allowing five runs in the fifth. But with two outs in the home sixth, the Wildcats began their comeback. With runners at first and second,
Samantha Bradley, who came in to pitch in the fifth inning, stepped up and ripped a single to center to score one. Then freshman
Kaitlyn Huseman had a big moment in her young career. The rookie crushed a double to right center field to score both runs to tie the game, 5-5. A game would go to extras at Poly Wells Field for the first time in 2019.
The Wildcats, who were 1-2 in extra-inning games coming in, put pressure on the Ladyjacks (29-17, 14-7 SLC) in both extra frames. The visitors went down in order in the eighth, and ACU put the game-winning run at second base with two outs. However, Huseman fouled out to end the threat. ACU would take advantage in the ninth.
After SFA left a one-out walk in the top of the inning, the Wildcats got it going.
Briana Tijerina drew a one-out walk, and
Linsey Tomlinson followed with a hit-by-pitch.
Kayla Keeling then singled to load the bases for freshman
Anna Grace Johnson. Johnson grounded one to third base, and a good throw home cut down the lead runner for the second out. But it all was set up for junior
Blair Clayton.
Clayton was 2-for-4 at this point with a run scored, but did not have base runners to drive in during those at-bats. But this time, she had an opportunity. The Caldwell, Texas native delivered, driving a ball to right center field. SFA right fielder Alex Hedspeth got a good jump on it, but her diving effort came up just short, and the Wildcats walked off. The win ended a tough 10-game losing streak, and caps the holiday weekend in style.
The comeback win actually began with ACU jumping out in front. The 'Cats scored a pair of runs in the third inning on a Tomlinson double and an error on a fly ball in the infield. However, SFA would answer with a big five-run fifth inning to take the lead. But the late innings were ACU's friend Saturday afternoon.
Bradley earned the win after 4.2 quality innings of relief work. The sophomore allowed just two runs on four hits and did not allow a hit in extra innings to keep the 'Cats in it, propelling them to their first walk-off win of the season.
The offense needed a big game, and tallied 10 hits on the day, with Clayton's three leading the way. Bradley and Keeling each recorded a pair of hits, while Huseman's two runs batted in led the team.
ACU will play at Poly Wells Field for the final time in 2019 next weekend as it hosts Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Friday and Saturday, April 26-27. The doubleheader Friday begins at 5 p.m., with game three on Saturday slated for 12 p.m.
