Wildcats host Arkansas State at The Crutch this weekend

ABILENE – ACU baseball will lace ‘em up at Crutcher Scott Field again this weekend to wrap up the early non-conference portion of the schedule when they host Arkansas State of the Sun Belt for a three-game series. The Wildcats (5-3) are off to a 4-1 start at their friendly confines and have their last non-conference series of the month beginning Friday at 6:05 p.m. The Saturday matchup is a unique 4:05 p.m. start, and Sunday’s matinee is slated for 1:05 p.m.

FOLLOW THE SERIES

SERIES HISTORY

This weekend marks the first meeting since 1961 between the schools. Arkansas State won the only matchup in the series history, 3-1, in Abilene at the Southland Conference Tournament. A-State now resides in the Sun Belt Conference.

THE PITCHING MATCHUPS

Game 1: RHP Spencer Chirpich (1-0, 6.75 ERA) vs. RHP Zech Jarrard (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

Game 2: RHP Genner Cervantes (1-0, 3.00 ERA) vs. RHP Carter Holt (0-0, 12.00 ERA)

Game 3: LHP Adam Stephenson (0-2, 7.04 ERA) vs. RHP Brandon Anderson (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

ACU STORYLINES

• RACKING UP THE K'S: ACU ranks 15th in the country with 12.2 strikeouts per nine innings this season. The Wildcats have struck out 91 batters as a pitching staff, with Max Huffling leading the way with 17. Four players have double-digit punch-outs (Tanner Riley - 16, Tyler Morgan - 15, Austin Glaze - 10).
• RILEY'S REMARKABLE START: Right-hander Tanner Riley is 2-0 this season out of the bullpen, has not allowed a run, and has a miniscule 0.96 WHIP. In his 8.1 innings of work, he has 16 strikeouts, nearly two K's every inning. Riley is barely allowing base runners this season; the Clyde, Texas native is allowing a .138 batting average and has only walked four batters.
• SAME ROTATION: Head coach Rick McCarty has his weekend rotation set for the season so far. Spencer Chirpich (6.75 ERA) gets the ball to open the series Friday, Genner Cervantes (3.00 ERA) goes again in Game 2, and Adam Stephenson (7.04 ERA) starts the finale on Sunday.
• BASH BALL: Freshman Sebastian “Bash” Randle is swinging the bat wonderfully to open his Wildcat career. His .455 batting average is top 60 in the country, and his .600 on-base percentage ranks 27th nationally. Randle has 10 hits in 22 at-bats, and three of hits are doubles. The rookie has driven in nine runs, and has moved from the eight-hole up to as high as the five-spot in the lineup this season.
• OFFENSIVE FIREPOWER: ACU is hitting .300 as an offense, ranking No. 31 in all of college baseball, but the power has been most impressive. The team's 19 doubles are the 13th-highest mark in the country, and 24 of their 79 hits this season have gone for extra bases. ACU has been patient at the plate as well; their 39 walks are top 50 in the nation, and the .405 team on-base percentage is No. 32 in the country.

SCOUTING ARKANSAS STATE

• The Red Wolves are entering the weekend series after dropping a 9-6 contest to Murray State Tuesday evening. 
• A-State (0-4) hasn't started a season 0-4 since the 1990 season.
• Sky-Lar Culver enters the weekend series with team-high six hits. His .769 slugging percentage is most on the team as he has registered four RBI, a homerun and a double. The senior has walked and been hit by pitch once.
• To this point, Liam Hicks has played solid for A-State as he has collected five hits, two doubles a home run and four RBI. Hicks has registered a team-best .529 on base percentage.
• In the midweek contest against Murray State, Drew Tipton, Hicks and Culver saw their on base streak move to four.