ABILENE – Colton Eager reached base four times including three hits,
Hunter Gieser hit a homer and drove in four runs, but the ACU baseball team surrendered an 11-8 game in the finale against Sam Houston on Sunday at Crutcher Scott Field. The Wildcats (15-7, 7-9 WAC) trailed 2-0 right away, but after tying the game, took the lead 7-2 in the fifth inning. However, Sam Houston (19-13, 10-5 WAC) scored five in the sixth to even the game and three more in the eighth to take the lead back and win 11-8. The teams combined for 21 hits and 19 runs to close the weekend.
How It Happened
- ACU's closer,
Tanner Riley, was tapped to get the ball on Sunday to get things going early in the game on the mound for ACU. It worked. The veteran allowed three runs total in the first four innings to give the 'Cats a chance.
- ACU trailed 2-0, but responded in the bottom of the second with a Gieser single down the line in right to score
Bryson Hill. The game was then tied after
Aaron Staehely reached on an error at first base, allowing
Brett Hammit to score. It was a new game through two.
- The 'Cats erupted for five in the third. With the bases loaded and two outs, Hammit singled through the left side to score Eager and
Tanner Tweedt. And then in stepped Gieser. The big first baseman demolished a ball to left center field. With an exit velocity of 108 mph, his three-run shot went 406 feet to put ACU up 7-2.
- Sam Houston got an rbi-single in the fourth inning to get a run back, making it 7-3.
- ACU responded in the bottom of the fourth when Tweedt doubled to left field to plate Eager. The lead was 8-3 after four.
- Sam Houston limited ACU the rest of the way, as the 'Cats did not score the final five innings. The Bearkats evened it up with a five-run sixth, and then took the lead with three in the eighth to win the ballgame.
Stat Pack
- Gieser drove in a season-best four runs, including the massive home run. The homer was his fifth of the season.
- Eager tallied three hits Sunday and reached base four times. The veteran scored a pair of runs.
- Hammit drove in two runs and scored a pair of runs as well.
- Riley made his first career start, tossing 3.1 innings of three-run ball on four hits with five strikeouts.
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Adam Stephenson pitched 2.1 innings out of the bullpen, allowing four earned on five hits with a strikeout.
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Connor Carlton went 0.1 inning, allowing one earned on two hits with a strikeout.
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Adam Byrd threw 1.1 innings, allowing two earned on one hit with a strikeout.
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Austin Glaze threw 1.2 innings of scoreless ball with no hits allowed and three punch outs.
Beyond the Box Score
- There have been 104 runs scored in the last five games between ACU and Sam Houston, all Bearkat wins dating back to the 2021 Southland Conference Tournament in Hammond, La. In those five games, there have been a combined 136 hits, including 21 home runs.
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Grayson Tatrow's on-base streak is up to 24 games, while Eager's is at 18 games.
Up Next
- ACU turns to its Tuesday night game against UT Arlington at Crutcher Scott Field to wrap up its six-game home stand. First pitch is slated for 6:05 p.m.
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