ABILENE — Junior right-hander
Genner Cervantes pitched ACU's first complete-game shutout by a starting pitcher in five seasons in game one of the doubleheader Friday against Northwestern State, guiding the Wildcat baseball team to an 11-0 win, but NSU came back with a 5-3 victory in game two to earn the Southland Conference split. The Demons have a 2-1 series lead going into the finale on Sunday, which begins at 2:05 p.m. ACU (16-10, 8-7 SLC) used the quality start from Cervantes, and capitalized with a big offensive inning as well to pull away in the opener. The 'Cats scored six times in the fifth inning of a seven-inning game one to open up the big lead, and Cervantes did his thing to stay perfect at 5-0 on the season. Overall, ACU scored 14 runs in two games, tallying 19 hits on the day, led by
Mitchell Dickson's five hits in eight at-bats.
Game 1: ACU 11, NSU 0
Cervantes was dealing early, not allowing a baserunner until there were two outs in the fourth inning. He kept Northwestern State off-balance, and had the perfect game going until Lenni Kunert stepped in a sent one right back at Cervantes up the middle. The ball hit the Wildcat pitcher up near the head and neck area from behind, and shot off to the right side of the field. Kunert reached base, and Cervantes was down on the field for a bit. The junior was checked out by the training staff, and got right back on the mound and struck out NSU's Jeffrey Elkins to end the inning. The right-hander didn't lose a beat, throwing the rest of the game just as brilliantly as before.
ACU gave Cervantes some help with a run in the bottom of the second inning. With two outs and the bases empty,
Grayson Tatrow singled on the infield to keep the inning alive. ACU then got a little help from an NSU error on a ball hit by
Mike Brown, and the 'Cats had two on with an opportunity.
Sebastian Randle then stepped in, and after a ball that all of Northwestern State's defense thought was strike three (the whole team was starting to walk off the field when the umpire called ball three), the freshman delivered with a single into center to plate Tatrow and put ACU in front.
While Cervantes was dealing, the 'Cats added two more in the home third on a
Colton Eager RBI-single up the middle. A couple more NSU errors allowed Eager to advance to second base, and
Miller Ladusau to reach, scoring Eager. ACU led 3-0 after three innings, and Cervantes kept on cruising on the hill.
Brown led off the home fourth with a double, and after Randle walked,
Alexei Cazarin moved both runners with a sacrifice bunt.
Mitchell Dickson, who continues to be an RBI-machine in the leadoff spot, singled on the infield to plate a run, and Eager drew a walk to load the bases.
Hunter Gieser then drove in Randle with a fielder's choice, and ACU led 5-0 after four. But the big inning would come in the fifth.
The Wildcats plated eight runs on six hits, and sent 11 batters to the dish. The inning featured two singles to lead it off from
Miller Ladusau and Tatrow, and after a sacrifice bunt, there were five consecutive singles. ACU just kept passing the baton to the next batter, and it resulted in a 10-0 lead. The eleventh run was driven in by
Brett Hammit on a double to left center, and ACU cracked open the 11-0 lead. Cervantes only allowed one baserunner in the final two frames, and the 'Cats cruised to the shutout win.
Stat Pack
- It is the first shutout of the season for ACU, and the first since April 16, 2019 against Arlington Baptist.
- Cervantes becomes the first pitcher to throw a complete-game shutout (albeit seven innings) since Kyle Carroll shut out Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on April 16, 2016.
- Cervantes threw all seven frames, allowing just three hits and four total baserunners, while striking out three.
- Dickson led the way with three hits, while Eager, Tatrow, and Randle all had two apiece.
- Dickson, Eager, Gieser, and Randle each drove in a pair of runs.
Game 2: NSU 5, ACU 3
Northwestern State starter Levi David tossed seven shutout innings in game two, striking out 12 Wildcats in the game. ACU only managed five baserunners against the Demon starter before scoring three runs off reliever Alex Makarewich. The Wildcats trailed the whole way in the second game, and a late rally would fall just short.
ACU starter
Adam Stephenson started the game strong, keeping it scoreless through three frames. NSU would score two in the top of the fourth on a passed ball and a single through the left side, but Stephenson was strong in his start. It was a 2-0 game all the way to the seventh inning, when the Demons scored on an rbi-single and an rbi-groundout to go up 4-0. But ACU was not done.
After Randle and Cazarin got out, the Wildcats fought back. Dickson drew a walk, and Eager singled up the middle to bring up Gieser. The junior first baseman drilled a ball straight down the line in left, and it stayed fair for a three-run homer to put ACU on the board, and draw the 'Cats within one run. It was a 4-3 game going to the ninth. NSU had an answer though, scoring on an rbi-single, and going back up 5-3. ACU went down in order in the ninth, putting an end to the comeback.
Stat Pack
- It was Gieser's third home run of the season.
- Stephenson went 5.1 innings, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out four.
-
Connor Carlton therew two innings out of the 'pen, allowing one run on three hits.
-
Nick Norton tossed 0.2 innings, while
Carter Sells threw an inning in relief.
- For the day, Dickson led the 'Cats with five hits, and Gieser led the way with five runs driven in.
