Walk-off win clinches series over Tarleton

ABILENE, Texas – The Wildcats won in walk-off fashion in game one on Saturday to clinch the series win, but the Texans came back to win game two and earn the doubleheader split. The teams combined for 35 total runs on the day as they lit up the scoreboard on an exciting afternoon of softball.  
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: 
Game 1

• It was the Texans who struck first on Saturday as they tallied three runs in the top of the first.
• Mercedes Eichelberger got the day started for the Wildcats with a walk to lead off the first inning and eventually came home on a sacrifice fly from Avery Miloch.
• Miranda Lista drove in two more runs in the first with a double that landed just inside the right field line, that tied the game at 3-3.
• After a leadoff single from Logan Gaspar in the second inning, two walks loaded the bases for Calie Burris who came through with a single up the middle to bring home two runs.
• Sydney Kaiser followed Burris with a sac fly to give the Wildcats a 6-3 lead.
• Tarleton put up a four-spot in the top of the third to take the 7-6 lead and forced a change in the circle with Laurén Schiek appearing in relief.
• With two outs and two on in the bottom of the fourth, Avery Miloch doubled to bring home a run. Despite a pitching change for the Texans, Miranda Lista tripled in the next at-bat to bring home two more.
• Paige Harris would then single in a pinch-hit appearance to add a fourth run in the inning and give the Wildcats a 10-7 lead.
• A wild pitch in the top of the sixth brought a runner home for Tarleton to cut the ACU lead to 10-8.
• With two outs in the top of the seventh, the Texans rallied to load the bases and a bases-clearing double gave them the lead, 11-10.
• Miranda Lista led off the bottom of the seventh with a single and got to second on a fielding error by the center fielder, she was then bunted over to third by Miranda Davila.
• A popout put the Wildcats down to their last out, but Riley White came up with a triple to right center to score Lista and tie the game at 11.
• Mercedes Eichelberger singled to right field to bring home White and earn the walk-off victory for the Wildcats.

 
Game 2

• Back-to-back two-out singles in the bottom of the first gave the Wildcats an early 2-0 lead.
• The Texans were able to retake the lead on one swing in the top of the third with a three-run homer from Capell.
• Avery Miloch would retake the lead for ACU on a single swing of her own with a three-run shot to left in the bottom of the fifth.
• The Texans answered in the top of the sixth with four runs to take a 7-5 lead that would hold for the win.

 
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:

• Miranda Lista notched her first multi-RBI game, driving in four runs in the first game of the day. She totaled five RBI for the day.
• Avery Miloch launched her fifth homerun of the season and had four RBI in game two. This was her third game of the season with four RBI.
• Mercedes Eichelberger extended her on-base streak to 18 games.
• Hannah Benavides earned her first collegiate win after coming on in relief in the top of the seventh of game one.
• Calie Burris drew three walks in game two and now has a team-high 17 for the year.

 
ON DECK: 

• ACU will head on the road next weekend to face Sam Houston for their weekend series.