Abilene Christian
5-4
Marist
4-2
Pair of big innings gives ACU series-opening win over Marist
3/4/2022 9:22:00 PM | Baseball
A game one win!#ATO | #GoWildcats pic.twitter.com/Ia3VORAumq
— ACU Baseball (@ACU_Baseball) March 5, 2022
How It Happened
- Tyler Morgan got off to a great start, tossing the first five innings, allowing a pair of runs. Marist scored in the first, but not again until the fifth off the sophomore right-hander.
- ACU, trailing 1-0 through two-and-half innings, changed that with a big home third. Bash Randle mashed his first homer of the season to tie the game.
- After a pair of fly outs, the hits came in bunches. Hunter Gieser and Miller Ladusau roped back-to-back doubles to plate a run, Grayson Tatrow then singled to score Ladusau, and Brett Hammit doubled to score Tatrow. The 'Cats plated four in the third to grab a lead they would not surrender.
- Marist scored again in the top of the fifth, but would not score again.
- ACU blew the game open in the bottom of the sixth. Randle grounded out to plate Bryson Hill, then Tommy Cruz drove in a run with a single, and Gieser used a sacrifice fly to score the third run of the inning.
- ACU scored two more in the home eighth with Colton Eager scoring after a throwing error at third, and Ladusau doubled down the left field line to score Tommy Cruz.
A 👀 at the first round-tripper of the year for @BashRandle!#ATO | #GoWildcats pic.twitter.com/yWwj1BALtL
— ACU Baseball (@ACU_Baseball) March 5, 2022
Stat Pack
- Morgan got the win, his second of the young season, tossing five with seven strikeouts.
- Carter Sells was phenomenal in relief, tossing a four-inning save, allowing no runs on just one hit with a strikeout.
- Eight players recorded hits, led by Eager, Ladusau, and Tatrow, who all had two apiece.
- Six Wildcats drove in a run, with Randle and Ladusau driving in two each.
- ACU drew five walks and recorded 11 total hits.
Beyond the Box Score
- The home run for Randle was his first of the year, and his first since May 9, 2021 against Lamar.
- Friday marked the second time this week, and the only two times this season, ACU had six players drive in a run; the 'Cats did so in the series finale against Michigan State on Monday.
Up Next
- The series continues with the middle game on Saturday, March 5. ACU goes for the series win at 3:05 p.m. at Crutcher Scott Field.
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Twitter: @ACUsports | @ACU_Baseball
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Facebook: /ACUSports
#GoWildcats
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Morgan, Tyler (2-0)
L: Nick Cantone (0-1)
S: Sells, Carter (1)
Batting:
2B: Gavin Norieg 1 ; Colin Mackle 1
RBI: Gene Napolit 1 ; Gavin Norieg 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Gene Napolit 1 ; Colin Mackle 1
SB: Gene Napolit 1 ; Robbie Armit 1
CS: Niko Amory 1
Batting:
2B: Gieser, Hunter 1 ; Ladusau, Miller 2 ; Hammit, Brett 1
HR: Randle, Bash 1
RBI: Randle, Bash 2 ; Cruz, Tommy 1 ; Gieser, Hunter 1 ; Ladusau, Miller 2 ; Tatrow, Grayson 1 ; Hammit, Brett 1
SF: Gieser, Hunter 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Dickson, Mitchell 1 ; Randle, Bash 1 ; Eager, Colton 2 ; Cruz, Tommy 1 ; Gieser, Hunter 1 ; Ladusau, Miller 1 ; Tatrow, Grayson 1 ; Hill, Bryson 1
SB: Dickson, Mitchell 1 ; Eager, Colton 2 ; Tatrow, Grayson 2
HBP: Cruz, Tommy 1 ; Hill, Bryson 1
