Wildcats open Southland slate with Demons

NATCHITOCHES, La. – The Wildcat baseball team hits the road this weekend for a three-game series at Northwestern State to open the Southland Conference schedule. ACU (6-5) had its Wednesday night game cancelled at Texas A&M due to weather, and will hit the diamond for the first time in six days as they battle the Demons (9-3), who sit at the top of the league standings.

The Series

• Game 1: Friday, March 6 (6:30 p.m.)
  • LHP Austin Wagner (ACU) vs. RHP Logan Hofmann (NSU)
• Game 2: Saturday, Feb. 22 (2 p.m.)
  • RHP Spencer Chirpich (ACU) vs. LHP Cal Carver (NSU)
• Game 3: Sunday, Feb. 23 (1 p.m.)
  • LHP Nate Hawkins (ACU) vs. RHP Johnathan Harmon (NSU)

The History

• Northwestern State leads the all-time series, 12-3, but the Wildcats won two of three to open league play in Abilene a year ago. ACU won 4-0 and 6-2 in games one and three of the series, and sandwiched in between was a 24-11 Northwestern State win in game two.

ACU Storylines

• ACU is coming off a home series loss to Horizon League's Youngstown State, and is looking to snap a two-game losing streak.
• The pitching has seen a huge improvement in the young season. ACU is posting a 3.95 team ERA, and in particular, starting pitcher Austin Wagner has been on a roll. The sophomore is 1-1 on the year and has yet to allow a run in 15.0 innings.
• Nate Hawkins, the Sunday starter, has posted a 1.29 earned run average and is 1-1 as well.
• ACU as a staff has recorded 101 strikeouts to just 31 walks this season.
• Freshman Hayden Clearman has been on a roll in centerfield and at the plate. Clearman has dazzled with great plays in center and leads the team with a .370 average. He and fellow freshman Cameron Cromer have the two triples on the team.