Wildcats host Demons on Easter Weekend

ABILENE – The month of April starts Thursday, and so does the heart of the Southland Conference baseball season. ACU (15-8, 7-5 SLC) hosts Northwestern State in a four-game series over Easter Weekend, and due to the holiday, the series shifts to Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, April 1-3. It is a single game on Thursday beginning at 6:05 p.m., a doubleheader beginning at 2:05 p.m. on Friday, and a single game that starts at 2:05 p.m. on Saturday.

FOLLOW THE SERIES

SERIES HISTORY

ACU trails the series 14-4 all-time against Northwestern State, and it was all NSU early on in the series history. The Demons won 11 of the first 12 matchups from 2014-2018, but the last six matchups have been alternating wins by each team. ACU took two of three in Abilene in 2019, and NSU took two of three in 2020. It was the lone Southland series of the season for the teams before everything was canceled due to COVID-19.

THE PROJECTED PITCHING MATCHUPS

Game 1: RHP Tyler Morgan (0-1, 4.15 ERA) vs. RHP Johnathan Harmon (1-2, 3.60 ERA)

Game 2: RHP Genner Cervantes (4-0, 6.44 ERA) vs. LHP Cal Carver (3-1, 1.30 ERA)

Game 3: LHP Adam Stephenson (0-3, 5.40 ERA) vs. RHP Levi David (1-2, 3.86 ERA)

Game 4: RHP Spencer Chirpich (3-1, 6.91 ERA) vs. LHP Reed Michel (0-2, 4.50 ERA)

ACU STORYLINES

• TEEING OFF: The Wildcat offense has been red-hot all season long. This is where they rank nationally in different offensive statistical categories: 3rd - Runs (194), 7th - Doubles (51), 8th - Hits (238), 10th - Runs/Game (8.4), On-Base Percentage (.406), 19th - Batting Average (.303), 20th - Walks (116). ACU scored 48 runs in four games at UCA, and tallied 43 hits as well.
• QUADRUPLE THE POWER: Colton Eager went off last weekend at Central Arkansas, launching four home runs and tallying a .438 batting average. Eager slugged 1.250, and had an on-base percentage of .591 in the 3-1 weekend against the Bears.
• UP TO THE LEADOFF SPOT: Mitchell Dickson was moved up to the top spot in the order, and he absolutely delivered. Dickson tallied nine hits against UCA, had a .591 on-base percentage, and delivered with runners on almost every time. The Wildcat catcher drove in 12 runs and hit .500 in four games in Conway, Ark.
• OUT OF THE 'PEN: Lefty Max Huffling was big-time out of the bullpen in the opener against UCA. The southpaw tossed four scoreless innings and struck out five in the outing.

SCOUTING NORTHWESTERN STATE (10-12, 4-4 SLC)

• Northwestern State has split its first two conference series – at home against UIW and on the road at Sam Houston.
• The Demons have found success in league play with their pitching setting the tone. Northwestern State has pitched to a 3.26 ERA in eight Southland games, striking out 69 hitters in 66 1-3 innings. Left-hander Cal Carver, who is set to start the opening game of Friday's doubleheader, has been particularly effective, working 13 2-3 of a possible 14 innings in his two starts.
• Carver and right-handers Johnathan Harmon and Levi David have posted a combined 2.67 ERA in their six conference starts, striking out 38 batters in 33 2-3 innings.
• The Demon offense has scuffled trying to find its footing in the first 22 games of the season, but a late-game push against LSUA in a 7-3 win Tuesday night may have unlocked a key for Northwestern State at the plate.