Wildcats put it all together, take two from Fresno State

FRESNO, Calif. – Colton Eager drove in three runs, Genner Cervantes went 6.1 dominant innings, and the ACU baseball team took two out of three from the Mountain West's Fresno State after a 6-3 win on Saturday. The Wildcats (18-18) trailed 1-0 through four innings, but grabbed a commanding lead with three in the fifth and two in the seventh to prevail 6-2. The pitching for the weekend continued to be solid, as a combination of Cervantes, Connor Carlton, and Max Huffling combined to allow three runs on just seven hits against a very good Bulldog (17-18) offense. It's the second road series win of the season, and the second consecutive series win away from Abilene.

How It Happened
- Fresno State took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first with an rbi-single, but that would be it against Cervantes. The senior was dominant Saturday in the start.
- The game changed in the fifth inning. ACU loaded the bases with just one out, and Eager stepped up and delivered with a two-run single into center to score Hunter Gieser and Aaron Staehely. That swing gave the 'Cats a lead they would not surrender.
- ACU tacked on another run in the fifth when Tanner Tweedt brought home Grayson Tatrow with an rbi-groundout. ACU led 3-1 halfway through the game.
- Eager and Tweedt were at it again in the seventh frame. With Tatrow aboard at second, Eager doubled down the right field line to score his outfield mate, giving the 'Cats a 4-1 advantage. Tweedt then stepped up and drove a ball into right center field that got all the way to the wall, and the Wildcat designated hitter legged out an rbi-triple to go up 5-1.
- In control of the game, Bash Randle added more insurance with an rbi-single into right field to plate Tatrow, and the lead was 6-1.
- Fresno State threatened in the ninth, scoring a pair of runs with one out, but had too far to come back, as ACU held on, 6-3.

Stat Pack
- Cervantes dazzled in his 6.1 innings to earn the win, allowing one earned on four hits with seven strikeouts.
- Carlton threw 1.2 innings out of the bullpen, allowing one earned on two hits with a strikeout.
- Huffling pitched the ninth inning, and allowed one earned run with one strikeout.
- Eager led the offense with two hits and three runs driven in, and reached base three times Saturday.
- Tatrow had a unique game, tallying one hit but reaching base four times with three walks. The junior scored three runs in the game.
- Tweedt drove in a pair, and legged out his second triple of the season.

Beyond the Box Score
- Tweedt's triple was ACU's eighth of the season.
- Cervantes' 6.1 innings was his longest outing of the season, and his longest in more than a calendar year. The right-hander went 7.0 innings against Northwestern State on April 2, 2021.
- Cervantes now has 23 strikeouts in his last four outings.

Up Next
- ACU has some much-needed time off this week before resuming WAC play next weekend. The Wildcats host UTRGV for a three-game series at Crutcher Scott Field on April 22-24. All three games will air on ESPN+.

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