Cruz knocks in two Friday night against Tarleton

ABILENE – Tommy Cruz drove in two runs, both with two outs in the innings, but the ACU baseball team fell in game one Friday night at Crutcher Scott Field to Tarleton, 9-7. The Texans (8-12, 4-3 WAC) scored two in the ninth inning to claim the opener over ACU (11-10, 4-3 WAC) in a game that featured four lead changes. The teams turn to Saturday for the middle game of the series, which begins at 3:05 p.m.

How It Happened
- Cruz got the scoring started with a two-out rbi-single to plate Grayson Tatrow, and ACU led 1-0.
- Tarleton took the lead in the top of the second off Tyler Morgan with a three-run home run.
- The fourth inning was wild. Tarleton made three errors and ACU capitalized with five runs in the inning, despite having just one hit. Bash Randle scored on a ground ball to short, beating the throw to the plate. Mitchell Dickson then drove in a run with a groundout, and two runs came in after an error in left field off the bat of Colton Eager. Cruz was the lone hit of the inning, driving in Eager with a two-out double, giving him his second rbi of the game, both with two outs.
- Tarleton responded immediately, however, with two in the fifth inning to get within 6-5, and then took the lead in the top of the sixth with two more runs. Tarleton led 7-6 going to the home sixth.
- Miller Ladusau tied it up with an rbi-triple in the bottom of the sixth inning, knotting the game up at 7-7.
- Tarleton scored two in the ninth to win it, 9-7.

Stat Pack
- Cruz led the way with his two hits and two runs driven in.
- Dickson recorded a hit with an RBI.
- Ladusau had his first triple of the season.
- Morgan went 4.2 innings, allowing five earned on eight hits with four strikeouts.
- Max Huffling was brilliant out of the bullpen, throwing three scoreless without allowing a hit and striking out three.
- Tanner Riley (2-1) takes the loss, going 1.0 inning, allowing one earned run on one hit.

Beyond the Box Score
- It was the fifth triple of the season for the Wilcats tonight, and the first for Ladusau in his career.

Up Next
- The teams play at 3:05 p.m. on Saturday for game two of the series. The game will air on ESPN+.

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