ACU closes April, opens May this weekend at HBU

HOUSTON – 16 games remain in the 2021 baseball regular season, and with the last days of April approaching and the dawning of the month of May right around the corner, the importance of the final four weekends amps up. ACU (22-17, 13-11 SLC) hits the road for four keys games at Houston Baptist (10-28, 7-17 SLC) this weekend with a chance to solidify their standing within a jam-packed Southland Conference. The 'Cats take their three-game winning streak to Husky Field for a series that takes place all in the afternoon, beginning Friday at 2 p.m., continuing with a doubleheader on Saturday at 11 a.m., and culminating Sunday with a single game at 2 p.m.

The entire series can be seen on the Husky Sports Network.

FOLLOW THE SERIES

SERIES HISTORY

HBU leads 12-6 all-time in a series that dates back to 2014. The teams last met in Houston for a three-game set in 2019, with HBU winning the final two games of that series after the Wildcats exploded for a 21-6 in the opener. ACU trails the series 8-4 in Houston, and the only series win in H-Town for ACU was in 2015.

THE PITCHING MATCHUPS

Game 1: ACU RHP Tyler Morgan (0-3, 8.37 ERA) vs. HBU RHP Jacob Coats (2-6, 5.96 ERA)

Game 2: ACU RHP Genner Cervantes (5-1, 6.02 ERA) vs. HBU RHP Jared Burch (2-2, 7.80 ERA)

Game 3: ACU LHP Adam Stephenson (0-4, 4.21 ERA ERA) vs. HBU RHP Daxton Tinker (1-4, 4.68 ERA)

Game 4: ACU RHP Spencer Chirpich (4-3, 5.94 ERA) vs. HBU TBD

ACU STORYLINES

• PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Junior Colton Eager earned his second Southland Conference Hitter of the Week award after hitting .467 and slugging .973 in four games. Eager drove in eight runs in the three-games-to-one series win over UIW at Crutcher Scott Field. Four of his seven hits went for extra bases (2 doubles, 1 triple, 1 home run), and he drove in eight runs, including five of those in game two of the series, a career-high. Eager came a single away from the cycle in game two of the series, and instead ripped a double in his final at bat to give him four extra-base hits in the game. He also launched his ninth homer of the season, ranking him second in the Southland Conference.
• SERIES WIN OVER UIW – After struggling in a 12-1 loss on Friday night against UIW, the 'Cats turned it around quickly and won each of the next three games to win the series 3-1 at The Crutch. ACU exploded for 18 run and 26 hits in the Saturday doubleheader sweep, 10-7, and 8-3. The team backed it up with eight more runs and 16 more hits in the an 8-4 win Sunday to win the series. Overall, ACU hit .354 with 46 hits and 27 runs scored.
• STEPHENSON DOMINATES – Despite getting a no-decision Saturday, lefty Adam Stephenson threw six innings of scoreless ball, and tallied eight strikeouts, all matching or setting career-highs with the Wildcats.
• SUNDAY'S SAVVY VETERAN – Senior Spencer Chirpich was spectacular in his start against UIW on Sunday, tossing 7.0 innings of three-run ball. It was the second-longest outing of the season for Chirpich, who went 8.0 innings in a loss at Southeastern Louisiana. It was the longest outing in a win, allowing three runs on six hits, recording seven strikeouts in the process. The seven punch outs are a season-high as well, and the second-highest of his career. Chirpich only needed a total of 25 pitches in the first three innings as well.
• TEAM NATIONAL RANKINGS – Here's where ACU ranks in different categories:
  • 19th (1st Southland) - Hits (379)
  • 22nd (2nd Southland) - Runs Scored (279)
  • 23rd (3rd Southland) - Doubles (76)
  • 33rd (1st Southland) - Batting Average (.292)
  • 33rd (2nd Southland) - Total Walks (176)
  • 38th (1st Southland) - Runs Per Game (7.2)
  • 41st (2nd Southland) - On Base Percentage (.391)

SCOUTING HBU (10-28, 7-17 SLC)

• The Huskies are coming off a series loss to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi last weekend, with the lone win coming in game three, 3-2.
• HBU does not have a series win this season, but they have split with both Nicholls and Northwestern State.
• The offense has struggled with just a .233 team average, and the squad is only slugging .298. Leading the way is Brennen Bales with a .333 average.
• Closer Andrew Reitmeyer leads the way with 15 appearances on the mound, and his 3.72 ERA is the best amongst pitchers with multiple appearances. He has four saves this season. Eight different Huskies have started a game this spring.