LAKE CHARLES, La.— ACU opened Southland play with a single game at McNeese on Friday night. In what was a close game for most of the night, the Cowgirls came away with the 9-3 win after putting up six runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Samantha Bradley was in the circle for the Wildcats for all six innings with eight of the nine runs earned.
Blair Clayton started the scoring for ACU as she hit a solo homerun, her fourth of the season, in her first at-bat of the night. The Cowgirls answered with two runs of their own in the bottom of the first to take the early 2-1 lead.
Val Rudd got on via the walk in the second inning and after reaching third, scored on a wild pitch. The Wildcats were able to put another run on the board in the top of the fifth when Bradley drove in
Briana Tijerina from third, but that wouldn't be enough as McNeese answered with six runs in the bottom of the inning.
Stat pack
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Linsey Tomlinson earned just her second start in the field in the last five games, the senior started in right field.
- Tomlinson went 1-2 with a double and a sacrifice hit. Her double was her first hit since the second weekend of the season against Missouri State.
- Six different players registered a hit for the Wildcats in the game.
- Tijerina hit her fourth triple of the season which leads the team and the conference.
- The Wildcats scored their first two runs on McNeese's Settle before Alexandra Flores came in for the relief appearance and win.
Farler Figures
On building early momentum: "The team did a great job of establishing some momentum at the beginning of the game and having great at bats. We need to continue to make adjustments throughout the game to keep the momentum going in our favor."
On what adjustments need to be made going into tomorrow: "Tomorrow is a new day. We need to eliminate the beginning and giving away multiple outs in one inning. For us to see success we need to clean up our defense and pitching."
On how the team can stay positive going into tomorrow's games: "We saw that we have the ability to play two great games tomorrow against McNeese, if we play clean softball. I think the team can take away confidence from our ability to put the ball in play hard and the execution of our offensive plan"
Up next
The Wildcats complete their opening conference series tomorrow with a doubleheader against the Cowgirls. The teams will play at 1 and 3 p.m. tomorrow at Cowgirl Diamond.
