CONWAY, Ark. – Junior
Spencer Chirpich struck out seven batters through 7.2 innings and a season-high 118 pitches, but a rocky start led to a 3-0 Central Arkansas lead that Abilene Christian could not overcome as the Wildcats were five-hit in their 4-1 loss Friday night at Bear Stadium.
The Bears (25-23, 15-10 Southland) scored their first run on Beau Orlando's RBI double to left and added a couple more in the second inning on Nathaniel Sagdahl's two-run single up the middle, plating Alonso Bibiano and Cole Fiori.
Chirpich settled in from there by retiring 19 of the last 22 batters he faced. The lone hit surrendered during this stretch was a fifth-inning leadoff double by Jay Anderson, who was left stranded a third base after Chirpich picked up a strikout and groundout.
Chirpich started the eighth with a hit by pitch but got the next two batter to ground to second before being pulled in favor of reliever
Hunter Spaeth, who balked in the Bears' fourth run following consecutive walks.
Countering Chirpich's performance was Cody Davenport, who whiffed 13 Wildcats around five hits allowed and one run, which the Wildcats' scored (
Dalton Dunn) on senior
Dalon Farkas' RBI single. Farkas finished the game 2-3 with a single, double and walk.
Ryne Randle and
Colton Eager also singled, while
Luis Trevino doubled to center field in the sixth inning for his 72nd base hit of the season (.416 BA / .775 SLG%).
Davenport pitched 8.0 complete innings on 124 pitches. He was followed to the mound by Gavin Stone, who recorded his six save of the spring after facing only four batters.
Riley Donahue drew a leadoff walk but his pinch runner
Seth Watts was erased on a ground ball to second base. Stone then struck out Randle and got
Eric Wimpee to finish the game on a 4-3.
The Wildcats (23-24, 10-15 Southland) continue their three-game series Saturday at 4 p.m.
