Photo by: Glenn Losoya
2021 Softball Season in Review
6/30/2021 5:17:00 PM | Softball
ABILENE, Texas—The 2021 season was one to remember for the Wildcats, especially after their late season surge to secure the final spot in the Southland Conference tournament. Weather, injuries, COVID cancellations, and so many other obstacles were thrown their way but it was never enough to break their spirit. The team faced adversity head on and each time found a way to overcome.
After originally scheduling a home tournament to open the season, the Wildcats were forced to cancel the tournament due to poor weather and instead opened the year at UTEP. This also led the Wildcats to play their 20 of their first 21 games on the road with a single home game on March 3 to break up the travel.
The team struggled early with a young roster and a number of newcomers shouldering heavy playing time, but there was never a lack of fight or determination on the field. The team started conference play going 2-1 in a series on the road but followed that up with only one win in their next 15 games. Despite their conference record, the team locked in knowing that they had a chance to secure some important wins over their final three series that could help them clinch a spot in the conference tournament. The Wildcats won seven of their final nine games, including a sweep in the final series at home, that clinched a postseason berth and gave a glimpse of what is to come for the program.
In a season that featured various highs and lows, the team found a way to close the season on a high note. Let's look back at some of their best moments from 2021.
Miloch goes yard in first AB
Recap
In the first game of the season, Avery Miloch, a freshman catcher, was up to the plate for her first career at bat. With two runners on she took the first pitch she saw out of the park to give the Wildcats their first runs of the year and a 3-1 lead. ACU would never relinquish the lead and would go on to earn the 13-6 win in the season opener.
Home opener win over Tarleton
Recap
The Wildcats opened their home season with a single game against Tarleton on March 3 and came from behind to earn the win over the Texans. Tarleton held a 2-0 lead in the fourth when Calie Burris launched a solo homer to put the Wildcats on the board. The Wildcats would again fall behind, allowing the Texans to take a 4-1 lead in the top of the fifth. ACU answered with three runs to tie the game in the bottom of the fifth and Kayla Keeling hit the game winning two-run homerun in the sixth.
White throws a gem in Lubbock
Recap
ACU would face TTU twice at the Texas Tech Invitational in early March. After falling to a tough Kansas City team in game one on Saturday, the Wildcats had a tough text to turn around and take on the Red Raiders the same afternoon. It was a pitching duel throughout with freshman Riley White giving up just six hits on the day. White gave up just one walk and had a strikeout on the day throwing six solid innings with the only earned run a solo shot in the fourth inning.
ACU earns series win to open Southland play
Recaps: DH | Game 3
The Wildcats opened conference play earning two tough wins in three games at Houston Baptist in their first conference action. In the series opener, Sam Bradley pitched a solid game giving up just two runs and threw a three-hit shutout in the final game to earn two wins on the weekend. She also accounted for three of the four RBIs in the shutout victory.
Wildcats go 7-2 over final nine games
Recaps: NICH1 | NICH2 | UIW1 | UIW2 | AMCC1 | AMCC2
After playing a tough early schedule in conference play the Wildcats had a chance to get a few wins down the stretch against the bottom half of the conference. The Wildcats went on a tear winning seven of nine games, including four-straight to close out the season. The team earned their first series sweep of the year against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and won all three of their final series. Samantha Bradley pitched all seven wins for the Wildcats and Kayla Keeling hit a game-winning homerun in each series.
Wildcats go extras in SLC tournament
Recap
It took ACU winning their final four games of the season to clinch a spot in the Southland Conference tournament. Once in Hammond, the Wildcats face weather delays, game postponements, and field changes before they could even get to the first pitch. No matter the obstacle the Wildcats faced it head on and put together a solid game in the opening round. The Wildcats trailed for most of the game against SLU and were down 3-1 headed to the sixth inning. Behind back-to-back doubles from Bradley and Miloch and a single from Katelyn Belch, ACU was able to tie the game at 3-3 and go to extra innings. The Lady Lions came away with the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth and despite the loss, it was another gritty and determined performance from the Wildcats.
Donelle Johnson – Second team
Southland All-Academic
Donelle Johnson – Second team
Hitting
Doubles
4. 12 – Shaylee Alani
7. 11 – Calie Burris
Triples
T1. 4 – Val Rudd
Home Runs
5. 9 – Avery Miloch
8. 8 – Calie Burris
Pitching
Wins
8. 10 – Samantha Bradley
Fielding
Putouts
2. 334 – Calie Burris
Assists
9. 87 – Katelyn Belch
Fielding double plays
2. 19 – Calie Burris
6. 13 – Shaylee Alani
Caught stealing by
1. 11 – Kayla Keeling
10. 4 – Avery Miloch
Batting Average
5. .312 – Donelle Johnson
6. .300 – Samantha Bradley
Slugging Percentage
3. .518 – Donelle Johnson
7. .466 – Samantha Bradley
T9. .442 – Calie Burris
On Base Percentage
3. .405 – Donelle Johnson
9. .358 – Kayla Keeling
Runs Scored
5. 71 – Katelyn Belch
6. 70 – Donelle Johnson
8. 48 – Caroline Adair
Hits
5. 106 – Kayla Keeling
6. 97 – Donelle Johnson
7. 94 – Samantha Bradley
T8. 91 – Katelyn Belch
10. 83 – Calie Burris
Doubles
T2. 28 – Donelle Johnson
4. 23 – Calie Burris
5. 20 – Samantha Bradley
Triples
T5. 4 – Briana Tijerina
T5. 4 – Val Rudd
T8. 3 – Katelyn Belch
T8. 3 – Kayla Keeling
T8. 3 – Caroline Adair
Home Runs
4. 17 – Kayla Keeling
T6. 12 – Donelle Johnson
T8. 10 – Samantha Bradley
T8. 10 – Calie Burris
RBIs
T4. 66 – Kayla Keeling
6. 54 – Calie Burris
7. 51 – Samantha Bradley
Walks
3. 46 – Kayla Keeling
4. 45 – Katelyn Belch
7. 36 – Briana Tijerina
8. 32 – Donelle Johnson
9. 31 – Calie Burris
Stolen Bases
3. 33 – Katelyn Belch
T4. 15 – Donelle Johnson
6. 14 – Blakeli Brookreson
T7. 13 – Caroline Adair
10. 12 – Briana Tijerina
Wins
3. 19 – Samantha Bradley
Complete Games
2. 27 – Samantha Bradley
5. 9 – Riley White
Innings Pitched
2. 359.2 – Samantha Bradley
8. 98.2 – Riley White
9. 92.0 – Alivia Sinnott
Putouts
2. 533 – Calie Burris
3. 432 – Kayla Keeling
9. 276 – Caroline Adair
Assists
3. 269 – Katelyn Belch
T6. 123 – Briana Tijerina
9. 90 – Samantha Bradley
10. 82 – Shaylee Alani
Double Plays Turned
1. 29 – Calie Burris
2. 25 – Katelyn Belch
T5. 16 – Briana Tijerina
8. 13 – Shaylee Alani
Caught Stealing
1. 36 – Kayla Keeling
T9. 4 – Avery Miloch
Batting Average
9. .351 – Donelle Johnson
Slugging Percentage
6. .553 – Donelle Johnson
9. .528 – Calie Burris
On Base Percentage
4. .430 – Donelle Johnson
Doubles
T2. 12 – Shaylee Alani
T4. 11 – Calie Burris
Triples
T6. 4 – Val Rudd
Home Runs
5. 9 – Avery Miloch
T6. 8 – Calie Burris
RBIs
9. 30 – Calie Burris
Walks
T10. 15 – Calie Burris
Stolen Bases
3. 14 – Katelyn Belch
Wins
6. 10 – Samantha Bradley
Complete Games
T5. 13 – Samantha Bradley
T8. 9 – Riley White
Shutouts
T3. 3 – Samantha Bradley
Innings Pitched
7. 144.1 – Samantha Bradley
Strikeouts
7. 59 – Samantha Bradley
Putouts
2. 334 – Calie Burris
Assists
6. 87 – Katelyn Belch
8. 82 – Shaylee Alani
Double Plays Turned
1. 19 – Calie Burris
3. 13 – Shaylee Alani
T9. 7 – Katelyn Belch
Caught Stealing By
3. 11 – Kayla Keeling
After originally scheduling a home tournament to open the season, the Wildcats were forced to cancel the tournament due to poor weather and instead opened the year at UTEP. This also led the Wildcats to play their 20 of their first 21 games on the road with a single home game on March 3 to break up the travel.
The team struggled early with a young roster and a number of newcomers shouldering heavy playing time, but there was never a lack of fight or determination on the field. The team started conference play going 2-1 in a series on the road but followed that up with only one win in their next 15 games. Despite their conference record, the team locked in knowing that they had a chance to secure some important wins over their final three series that could help them clinch a spot in the conference tournament. The Wildcats won seven of their final nine games, including a sweep in the final series at home, that clinched a postseason berth and gave a glimpse of what is to come for the program.
In a season that featured various highs and lows, the team found a way to close the season on a high note. Let's look back at some of their best moments from 2021.
TOP MOMENTS
Miloch goes yard in first AB
Recap
In the first game of the season, Avery Miloch, a freshman catcher, was up to the plate for her first career at bat. With two runners on she took the first pitch she saw out of the park to give the Wildcats their first runs of the year and a 3-1 lead. ACU would never relinquish the lead and would go on to earn the 13-6 win in the season opener.
T2 | @averymiloch0 with a THREE-RUN HOMER! Her first career at-bat is a MEMORABLE ONE!
— ACU Softball (@ACU_Softball) February 11, 2021
ACU 3, UTEP 1#GoWildcats | #SeasTheDay pic.twitter.com/2snQomL6wh
Home opener win over Tarleton
Recap
The Wildcats opened their home season with a single game against Tarleton on March 3 and came from behind to earn the win over the Texans. Tarleton held a 2-0 lead in the fourth when Calie Burris launched a solo homer to put the Wildcats on the board. The Wildcats would again fall behind, allowing the Texans to take a 4-1 lead in the top of the fifth. ACU answered with three runs to tie the game in the bottom of the fifth and Kayla Keeling hit the game winning two-run homerun in the sixth.
First Game at home ✅ First win at home ✅ #SeasTheDay🌊
— ACU Softball (@ACU_Softball) March 4, 2021
Read about it here👇https://t.co/90NMtBAQ2m pic.twitter.com/BQclxpoOO2
White throws a gem in Lubbock
Recap
ACU would face TTU twice at the Texas Tech Invitational in early March. After falling to a tough Kansas City team in game one on Saturday, the Wildcats had a tough text to turn around and take on the Red Raiders the same afternoon. It was a pitching duel throughout with freshman Riley White giving up just six hits on the day. White gave up just one walk and had a strikeout on the day throwing six solid innings with the only earned run a solo shot in the fourth inning.
ACU earns series win to open Southland play
Recaps: DH | Game 3
The Wildcats opened conference play earning two tough wins in three games at Houston Baptist in their first conference action. In the series opener, Sam Bradley pitched a solid game giving up just two runs and threw a three-hit shutout in the final game to earn two wins on the weekend. She also accounted for three of the four RBIs in the shutout victory.
🥎RECAP🥎 Sam Bradley this weekend in H-Town ...
— ACU Softball (@ACU_Softball) March 13, 2021
Hitting - .600 BA (6-10) with 2 runs, 3 RBI, 2B, HR
Pitching - 2-0, 14.0 IP, 1.00 ERA, 4K, 1BB#SeasTheDay🌊
👉https://t.co/T5C8ygW0Tc
Wildcats go 7-2 over final nine games
Recaps: NICH1 | NICH2 | UIW1 | UIW2 | AMCC1 | AMCC2
After playing a tough early schedule in conference play the Wildcats had a chance to get a few wins down the stretch against the bottom half of the conference. The Wildcats went on a tear winning seven of nine games, including four-straight to close out the season. The team earned their first series sweep of the year against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and won all three of their final series. Samantha Bradley pitched all seven wins for the Wildcats and Kayla Keeling hit a game-winning homerun in each series.
See you in Hammond! 😎 https://t.co/P2Byqk7ROS
— ACU Softball (@ACU_Softball) May 8, 2021
Next stop: @SouthlandSports tourney. 😤😤#GoWildcats #SeasTheDay🌊 pic.twitter.com/yFuDebN8N4
— ACU Softball (@ACU_Softball) May 8, 2021
🥶 Kayla "Clutch" Keeling has ice in her veins.
— ACU Softball (@ACU_Softball) May 9, 2021
✅ Three game-winning homeruns in as many weekends
✅ A bat flip so good that @SamanthaShow03 would be proud
✅ Clinch a spot in the Southland Conference Tournament
We will see you in Hammond😼#SeasTheDay🌊 pic.twitter.com/f7JYWOZpI0
Wildcats go extras in SLC tournament
Recap
It took ACU winning their final four games of the season to clinch a spot in the Southland Conference tournament. Once in Hammond, the Wildcats face weather delays, game postponements, and field changes before they could even get to the first pitch. No matter the obstacle the Wildcats faced it head on and put together a solid game in the opening round. The Wildcats trailed for most of the game against SLU and were down 3-1 headed to the sixth inning. Behind back-to-back doubles from Bradley and Miloch and a single from Katelyn Belch, ACU was able to tie the game at 3-3 and go to extra innings. The Lady Lions came away with the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth and despite the loss, it was another gritty and determined performance from the Wildcats.
It was a battle from the first pitch to the last. This team left it all on the field and pushed the home team to the brink!
— ACU Softball (@ACU_Softball) May 13, 2021
This team is special and there are great things to come!#GoWildcats #SeasTheDay🌊https://t.co/U5WAzZm5Po
SEASON AWARDS
Southland All-ConferenceDonelle Johnson – Second team
Southland All-Academic
Donelle Johnson – Second team
RANKINGS
Southland Individual RankingsHitting
Doubles
4. 12 – Shaylee Alani
7. 11 – Calie Burris
Triples
T1. 4 – Val Rudd
Home Runs
5. 9 – Avery Miloch
8. 8 – Calie Burris
Pitching
Wins
8. 10 – Samantha Bradley
Fielding
Putouts
2. 334 – Calie Burris
Assists
9. 87 – Katelyn Belch
Fielding double plays
2. 19 – Calie Burris
6. 13 – Shaylee Alani
Caught stealing by
1. 11 – Kayla Keeling
10. 4 – Avery Miloch
RECORD BOOK UPDATE
D1 Era Individual Career Records
Batting Average
5. .312 – Donelle Johnson
6. .300 – Samantha Bradley
Slugging Percentage
3. .518 – Donelle Johnson
7. .466 – Samantha Bradley
T9. .442 – Calie Burris
On Base Percentage
3. .405 – Donelle Johnson
9. .358 – Kayla Keeling
Runs Scored
5. 71 – Katelyn Belch
6. 70 – Donelle Johnson
8. 48 – Caroline Adair
Hits
5. 106 – Kayla Keeling
6. 97 – Donelle Johnson
7. 94 – Samantha Bradley
T8. 91 – Katelyn Belch
10. 83 – Calie Burris
Doubles
T2. 28 – Donelle Johnson
4. 23 – Calie Burris
5. 20 – Samantha Bradley
Triples
T5. 4 – Briana Tijerina
T5. 4 – Val Rudd
T8. 3 – Katelyn Belch
T8. 3 – Kayla Keeling
T8. 3 – Caroline Adair
Home Runs
4. 17 – Kayla Keeling
T6. 12 – Donelle Johnson
T8. 10 – Samantha Bradley
T8. 10 – Calie Burris
RBIs
T4. 66 – Kayla Keeling
6. 54 – Calie Burris
7. 51 – Samantha Bradley
Walks
3. 46 – Kayla Keeling
4. 45 – Katelyn Belch
7. 36 – Briana Tijerina
8. 32 – Donelle Johnson
9. 31 – Calie Burris
Stolen Bases
3. 33 – Katelyn Belch
T4. 15 – Donelle Johnson
6. 14 – Blakeli Brookreson
T7. 13 – Caroline Adair
10. 12 – Briana Tijerina
Wins
3. 19 – Samantha Bradley
Complete Games
2. 27 – Samantha Bradley
5. 9 – Riley White
Innings Pitched
2. 359.2 – Samantha Bradley
8. 98.2 – Riley White
9. 92.0 – Alivia Sinnott
Putouts
2. 533 – Calie Burris
3. 432 – Kayla Keeling
9. 276 – Caroline Adair
Assists
3. 269 – Katelyn Belch
T6. 123 – Briana Tijerina
9. 90 – Samantha Bradley
10. 82 – Shaylee Alani
Double Plays Turned
1. 29 – Calie Burris
2. 25 – Katelyn Belch
T5. 16 – Briana Tijerina
8. 13 – Shaylee Alani
Caught Stealing
1. 36 – Kayla Keeling
T9. 4 – Avery Miloch
Individual Season Records
Batting Average
9. .351 – Donelle Johnson
Slugging Percentage
6. .553 – Donelle Johnson
9. .528 – Calie Burris
On Base Percentage
4. .430 – Donelle Johnson
Doubles
T2. 12 – Shaylee Alani
T4. 11 – Calie Burris
Triples
T6. 4 – Val Rudd
Home Runs
5. 9 – Avery Miloch
T6. 8 – Calie Burris
RBIs
9. 30 – Calie Burris
Walks
T10. 15 – Calie Burris
Stolen Bases
3. 14 – Katelyn Belch
Wins
6. 10 – Samantha Bradley
Complete Games
T5. 13 – Samantha Bradley
T8. 9 – Riley White
Shutouts
T3. 3 – Samantha Bradley
Innings Pitched
7. 144.1 – Samantha Bradley
Strikeouts
7. 59 – Samantha Bradley
Putouts
2. 334 – Calie Burris
Assists
6. 87 – Katelyn Belch
8. 82 – Shaylee Alani
Double Plays Turned
1. 19 – Calie Burris
3. 13 – Shaylee Alani
T9. 7 – Katelyn Belch
Caught Stealing By
3. 11 – Kayla Keeling
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
UT
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
C/3B
/ Softball
UT
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
P
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